- The Assembly of Pre-Doctoral Researchers was created and the UPV researchers protested. They complain that the UPV, together with the Spanish government, has changed the type of pre-doctoral contract “unilaterally and with little transparency”.
It is explained in the note that the newly created assembly brings together more than 280 researchers. Concentrations and demonstrations to express “firm disagreement with the change in contracts” took place on Tuesday at the campuses of the capitals of the Basque Country. In Leioa they transmitted their demands to the rectory.
The university has changed the nature of the contracts, and researchers “strongly believe” that the new contracts “make the situation of young researchers even more precarious and compromised.” They also complained about the way in which the contract was changed: “Not a single e-mail has been sent to those affected, although they have been aware of the intention of change for a long time.”
The Ministry of Social Security has confirmed to them that the new pre-doctoral contracts retain all their rights, but they have denounced the existence of general disinformation regarding the consequences of the change: “No one gives us any guarantees about the real effects it can have.”
In response to this, the Rector has been asked to clarify the situation of the groups affected, to translate all the contracts of the doctors in front of them into the previous format, to guarantee the rights and interests of the collective, to promise to dignify unstable working conditions, and to respond to the above in a short period of time and with transparency.
It has been confirmed that pressure will continue to be exerted by the means necessary to achieve the objectives.