Interview with Dana Eichhorst and Ruben Schenzle from FU:fair&unbefristet
What connects the FU:fair&unbefristet initiative with the staff councils?
In the elections for the staff councils in 2020 and the new elections for the General Staff Council in 2022, active members of FU:fair&unbefristet ran on the Verdi– Open list. As a result, four representatives of the academic staff (research assistants and teaching staff for special tasks) were represented on the Dahlem Staff Council for the first time. More than ever before!
What’s the difference between staff council work and your work in the Fair&Unbefristet initiative?
Compared to our grassroots work as an independent initiative, we as staff council members operate within a narrowly defined legal framework, which limits how far we can go with concrete demands. However, being on the staff council also offers many opportunities to negotiate directly with the administrative department, demand information and, if necessary, take legal action to enforce rights. Mid-level staff make up a considerable proportion of the FU’s employees. It is therefore very important that the research assistants and teaching staff for special tasks are represented as an employee group in the Staff Council and at the same time exercise their right to have a say in the interests of everyone.
What progress have FU:fair&unbefristet and the Staff Council been able to achieve together?
Significantly better levels have been achieved for many employees as a result of meticulous attention being paid to the recognition of beneficial periods such as research fellowships. Contract periods are now also being fully utilised and are, for example, generally based on the doctoral regulations or duration of a project. For academic staff with a high teaching load, care has been taken to ensure that the reduction of teaching commitments to 14 teaching hours has been consistently implemented across the FU. We are also committed to monitoring the (non-)implementation of § 110 BerlHG at the FU.
How can I join Fair&Unbefristet?
Above all, the fixed-term nature of employment contracts makes it difficult for academic staff to get involved within the university structures. As it has entered the institutions, the initiative’s self-image has also changed. Today, FU:fair&unbefristet functions as a network of active and interested people from different departments and committees at the FU. We will meet again in the summer semester for this purpose: 22.4.- 17.6. at 6 pm in the Vereinszimmer, Kreuzbergstr. 15.
Information on the new election of the Dahlem staff council
The elections will take place from April 23rd. until May 10, 2024.
Postal voting information (Deadline 22.04.2024)