Mr. Frank Jones:

The situation is very dire in the university sector, more so than in the IT and TU sector. The reason for that is that there is no sectoral engagement and social dialogue, believe it or not, across the entire sector. University and employers' organisations are devising the researchers framework without any input from us. They are planning out the entire career of researchers through the seven points in the researchers career framework. When a researcher eventually reaches point 7, there is termination. A researcher can spend 15 years on a series of contracts and the employer's plan is to get him or her to point 7, where there is termination. There is no input from the trade unions or social dialogue. For this to work, there must be social dialogue. It is an absurd situation. The point is that without social dialogue and sectoral engagement, we will not get anywhere.