by Our Industrial Reporter @TrinderMatt

EDUCATION unions hailed the “biggest decasualisation win in the history of Britain’s higher education sector” today after the Open University introduced permanent contracts for thousands of workers.

About 4,800 associate lecturers previously working on a casual basis — which meant lower wages and uncertainty — will now receive the same benefits as those enjoyed by their permanently employed colleagues, the University & College Union (UCU) said. 

These include enhanced job security, up to 15 per cent higher wages, extra annual leave and staff development allowances, the union said.