THE University and College Union (UCU) launched a Justice for College Supervisors campaign today against unjust working conditions for hourly-paid teachers at the University of Cambridge. 

The campaign, backed by local Labour MP Daniel Zeichner and Cambridge’s student union, is warning that many of the hourly-paid undergraduate supervisors at the university’s 31 colleges lack a basic contract or minimum-wage guarantee.

UCU Cambridge has published a petition calling for senior tutors to introduce paid training, a supervision pay rate that reflects time spent preparing for classes, and employment contracts for all casualised undergraduate teachers.

A survey from the branch in 2018 found that 66 per cent of supervisors conducted at least two hours of preparation per hour of paid contact time, meaning many were earning far below minimum wage.

The data also revealed that nearly half of undergraduate teaching was done by the university’s most casualised academic workers.  

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “While Cambridge’s college masters enjoy big pay packets and perks, the supervisors who are the backbone of the university’s teaching system are being exploited with poverty pay.

“Casualised supervisors are sometimes on precarious contracts, but are often without any contract at all. Staff are fed up with being treated like this.

“Cambridge is one of the world’s wealthiest universities. Its colleges have more than enough money to pay staff fairly — it’s a moral stain they don’t already, and this must change.”

Mr Zeichner said: “The system needs to be overhauled and we need better consultation with supervisors on terms and conditions. 

“[They] are what makes the university stand out, but everyone doing the job should be treated properly.”

The University of Cambridge has been contacted for comment.