Trade Union of Doctoral Scientists Teaching and
Research (DEDE)
Founding of the trade union of Doctoral
Scientists Teaching and Research (DEDE)
Press Release – Nicosia, 13 January 2016
We announce the founding of a new pancyprian
union that concerns a large group of people working in the key sectors of
academic research and tertiary education. The Union of Doctoral Scientists Teaching
and Research (DEDE) was founded on 6th November 2015 in Nicosia and
was officially registered by the Trade Union Registrar on 17th
December 2015 and is based in Nicosia (University of Cyprus). Eligible members are
all doctorate holders that are involved in academic research and / or teaching,
but do not hold tenure-track positions in the public and private universities
of Cyprus.
This is a large and ever increasing
number of scientists, on whose labour the constant growth of tertiary education
and research in Cyprus is significantly based. Scientists that despite their high
specialization, qualifications and experience, are employed either on an hourly
basis (teaching), or on short term contracts (research), which are renewed
intermittingly for years, mainly with low wages, without most of the taken for
granted labour rights and benefits, being generally under conditions of labour
insecurity. Despite the fact that they constitute an integral part of the
academic institutions in which they work, they do not have substantial
participation in the bodies and processes of the academic community, while,
despite the fact that they often have leading participation in research,
receive diminished roles on research projects as a result of their employment
relation with the universities.
DEDE’s aim is to support the adjunct
researchers and teachers in all Cypriot universities in order to claim an
enhanced place for young scientists in the academia of Cyprus as well as improve
the terms and conditions of their work. We consider that this serves not only
the rights and interests of DEDE’s members, but also research and tertiary
education in Cyprus in general, since the conditions of research and teaching
work are inextricably linked with the quality of produced research and provided
education, the upgrade of which constitutes our priority.
Webpage: www.dede.org.cy
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/cydede