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We've long been aware of the shit state academics in Ireland, and globally, find themselves in. This article spurred me to count the number of short-term contracts I've been on since finishing my PhD in 2016... 1/14 https://www.thejournal.ie/academic-uncertainty-pt1-5265163-Nov2020/
Was a bit shocked, even myself, as I reckoned it was 5 or 6, but if was 9! That's 9 poxy short-term contracts in the space of 4 years; the gaps in which have to be plugged by dealing with the Dickensian shit-show that is Intreo (The Department of Social Welfare). 2/14
There's a book I'll be writing about my tête-à-tête with those horrible pricks (a minority were okay), if I ever get the time. I know it's the same for many others out there. 3/14
Even if I get the next tranche of funding, which I've just spent about a month writing a 10,000 word application for, that'll only keep me employed for a further 24 months. 4/14
Fair play to @noteworthy_ie for shedding further light on this, and in such great detail, and well done to the academics who spoke to them; it's not easy to poke your head above the parapet. 5/14
It must also be noted that some elected reps like @paulmurphy_TD have raised it recently with @MichealMartinTD who gave some mealy-mouthed platitudes as a response. 6/14
Recently, a new Department of Higher Education has been established with @SimonHarrisTD at the helm. Some of the Third Level unions have taken a naïve approach in welcoming this development. 7/14
Harris spent the last three years gaslighting everybody about the trolley crisis, the state of the HSE, the cervical smear scandal, the shite response to Covid etc. He will be no friend to workers. 8/14
What's needed is more militancy among academic workers. Green shoots exist in the form of various campaigns groups/embryonic trades unions that have sprung up organically on various campuses in an attempt to push back against this intolerable situation. 9/14
If you're on a campus, it's likely one of these groups already exists - join it and contribute! @AntiCasualUcd @PhDRights @pgwanuig @ifut
If not, talk to your colleagues and form one! 10/14
If not, talk to your colleagues and form one! 10/14
Although this situation needs to be viewed within the context of the corporatisation and adoption of the gig-economy by top brass in the universities (on massive salaries and long-term contracts themselves, of course), academics at different levels need to reflect. 11/14
Many have internalised the logic of the market and compete with one another in a ruthless race to the bottom instead of joining together in trades unions or campaigns groups and directing their energies upwards at those who run this dog eat dog system. 12/14
I could go on, but I won't. In short, join a trade union or a campaign group where you are and stand in solidarity with one other. Of course, you can still try for that golden egg of a permanent academic job (I am, admittedly). 13/14
Those CIDs are out there and you/we might even get one; but more than likely we won't. That is unless we set about a fundamental restructuring of Third Level - le chéile 
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