Many OU Lecturers are up in arms after being told a new mandatory retirement age (MRA) of 65 applies which means fear for many of being given “the boot” even when their performance is up to standard.
Associate lecturers complain of a “lack of sensitivity” and of “hurt” at this unilateral and un-negotiated change from a university that had been hit hard in 2006 by industrial action over stalled pay negotiations.
On 6 December 2006 Heyday the membership organisation supported by Age Concern challenged the UK government over implementation of the EU regulations on age discrimination. It argued that the MRA contradicts the spirit of the legislation and should be abolished. The High Court referred the matter to the European Court Of Justice on application by the organisation that was not challenged by the government’s lawyers.
Fear of use of full employment rights now extending beyond 65 have led some lawyers according to Age Concern to advise organisations to “dump” their over 65’s in an attempt to avoid future legal action but such harsh treatment could be counter-productive given key skills shortages.
Associate lecturers at the OU have complained and campaigned for years for equal treatment with full-time staff and many in the FE/HE sectors in the past noted exploitation by universities and colleges of endless fixed-term contracts until this practice was invalidated relatively recently.
