Scottish Government announce extension of fair work requirements for universities

The University and College Union (UCU) Scotland today (Wednesday) welcomed the announcement by the Scottish Government that colleges and universities in Scotland will be expected to meet a wider range of fair work criteria from April 2027.

The announcement by Scottish further and higher education minister, Ben Macpherson, means that in addition to current requirements to pay the living wage and recognise trade unions, university employers will now also be required to meet additional fair work criteria:

• investing in workforce development

• no inappropriate use of zero hours contracts
• addressing workplace inequalities, including pay and employment gaps for disabled people, racialised minorities, women and workers aged over 50;
• offering flexible and family friendly working practices for all workers from day one of employment; and
• opposing the use of fire and rehire practice

Mary Senior, Scotland official at UCU, said: "Today's news is a positive development and could make a difference to workers in Scotland's universities.  UCU has for a long time argued that universities need to do better on fair work, and that each of the fair work principles are integral to modern workplaces.  It is important, in taking forward today's announcement, that the Scottish Funding Council proactively monitor university employers' adherence to fair work, and that there is opportunity for trade unions to feed back when employers are not fulfilling their responsibilities to their workforce. 

"There are currently four ballots for industrial action open with six local disputes in Scotland's universities.  Over half of the sector is making cuts or making staff redundant with hundreds of workers at risk of redundancy, so it is difficult for the university workforce to reconcile their own experience with their bosses claiming to be fair work employers.  The extension of the fair work principles is welcome, but we also need to see an end to the job cuts and insecurity and to have stability for staff and students in Scottish universities."