When universities decide to operate like businesses rather than non-profit organisation, what naturally follows is the ethos of workers is changed towards that of profit-oriented organisations.
Survey by Times Higher Education shows up to 10% pay rise for university bosses between 2011 and 2012, the privilege not extended to other workers. At the same time, manual workers at the lower end even became worse off due to the use of private sub-contracters where paid holidays are not permitted and sick leave is unpaid. Furthermore, to enable the lucrative pay packages for vice-chancellors, there has been 'innovative' approaches such as employing research and teaching workers under zero hour contract.
It is a shame that universities' claims of their successes in financial terms such as positive balance, secure financial position and commercialisation prospect should come at a high cost which is the livelihood of the communities in which they are situated and claim to be part of.
