BARCELONA A solution to the problems of Spain's army of temporary lecturers may finally be in sight.
For the first time the Spanish government has pledged extra funds, ¤48 million (Pounds 32 million), to provide greater job security for some of the 30,000 academics on short-term contracts. However, as negotiations get under way, teaching unions have vowed to keep up the pressure by continuing a work-to rule for exam marking.
The ministry of education's proposals involve two main changes. Temporary contracts can be renewed for three years instead of subject to annual external evaluation of performance. In addition, a new position known as an associate lectureship would be created, which would not confer civil servant status or tenure but would offer similar pay.
The unions have criticised the proposals for being too vague and for failing to provide real solutions. "They are proposing to regulate this situation by legalising our lack of job security," said Milagros Garcia of the Temporary Lecturers' Organisation, currently working on a short-term contract at Granada University's civil law department. She calculates that lecturers on short-term contracts make up 30-50 per cent of Spanish academics and enjoy very limited employment rights.
"All we are asking for is the same rights as other workers," she said. The unions are calling for equal pay for contract and permanent staff, and a clear path towards tenure for temporary lecturers.
Together with Comisiones Obreras, the largest teaching union, the TLO has organised a work-to-rule, which could disrupt exam marking and next year's enrolments. Sister unions UGT and CSIF are giving the government the benefit of the doubt while they wait to see how negotiations proceed.
This is the first time central government has shown any willingness to compromise. Under Spain's decentralised political system, regional government is responsible for sharing out funding for education, and previous education minister Esperanza Aguirre had always refused to get involved. Many hope the latest developments mean new minister Mariano Rajoy is prepared to take the problem seriously.
The Spanish Conference of Rectors has yet to comment, but president Saturnino de la Plaza has stated his concern that what he sees as stopgap measures will not affect the overhaul of university legislation due to begin later this year.