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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Sally Weale Education correspondent

Academics win claim against Oxford University over ‘sham contracts’

Oxford University buildings
Oxford University, where Rebecca Abrams claims nearly 70% of teaching staff are on precarious contracts. Photograph: William Conran/PA

Two academics who sued Oxford University for employing them on “sham contracts” as gig economy workers, have won their claim for employee status in a ruling that could have implications for other higher education workers on precarious contracts.

Rebecca Abrams and Alice Jolly, both respected authors, taught on Oxford’s prestigious creative writing course for 15 years, but were employed on fixed-term “personal services” contracts, which they claimed denied them important workplace rights.

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