Goldsmiths College lecturers win employment rights after tribunal citing Uber precedent

Lecturers teaching short courses at Goldsmiths College, University of London have secured employment rights after taking the institution to an employment tribunal. The academics, who taught subjects ranging from art history to short story writing, were previously classified as independent contractors earning £55 per hour only for teaching hours without compensation for preparation time, student support, or holiday pay. Their contracts stipulated termination if they took breaks exceeding two weeks. Following months of protest and leveraging a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that granted Uber drivers worker status, Goldsmiths settled with three tutors by granting them worker status. Neda Genova, who taught Cultural Studies at Goldsmiths for two years, stated the victory should set a precedent for other higher education institutions facing similar exploitative conditions, warning against the 'uberification' of universities. A Goldsmiths spokesperson confirmed all short course tutors received new contracts in September 2021 recognizing them as workers earning over £56 per hour including preparation time and holiday pay, which they claim compares favorably with other non-accredited course providers. The lecturers now have rights to the National Minimum Wage, union representation, protection against unlawful wage deductions and discrimination, and paid holiday.