Respite for oio's

Oio's who 'through no fault of their own' have not yet finished their thesis after four years, can get an extension to their contract paid for by the research financiers. The unions and the research institutes reached an accord last week on this subject.

The agreement does not apply to the six-thousand 'assistenten-in-opleiding' (aio's) who work for universities. When exceeding the time allowed this group comes under the WW (unemployment law) and is in danger of losing the benefit because of being unable to comply with the duty to apply for jobs.

Some faculties have already made arrangements for their aio's. On Monday the unions have again met with the VSNU (the society for universities) in an effort to come to a national agreement.

In any case the chairperson of the national society for aio's and oio's (Laioo), May-May Meijer is not wholly in favour of the solution for oio's. She thinks that the burden of proof rests too much with the PhD-students: they should prove that the delay in finishing their thesis is not their fault. The PhD-students are considering further action.