Sebastian Persson makes a guest performance starring in his earlier role. During Tuesday evening, he was temporarily appointed vice chairperson of Lus, in place of Linnea Jacobsson who is on sick leave.
This spring, Lus’s presidium has been affected by internal difficulties. At the end of February, current vice chairperson Linnea Jacobsson left on sick leave. In order for the work to continue, previous vice chairperson Sebastian Persson stepped in and shouldered certain assignments.
Since then, Linnea Jacobsson’s sick leave has been extended several times, and Sebastian Persson has as a result stayed in his supporting role in Lus’s presidium.
The decision had to be approved by the Unions
Because of this, Lus’s board of directors has chosen to appoint Sebastian Persson as substituting presidium up until 31 May, 2016, but with the possibility of changing or terminating the contract prematurely. The post will cover 50 percent of the presidium pay, and Sebastian Persson will also be paid retroactively for the work he has done for Lus since 22 February.
But the decision to temporarily appoint Sebastian Persson, in the absence of Linnea Jacobsson, raises questions about the work environment. Because of this, Lus’s board of directors thought it necessary that the decision was approved by the University’s nine Student Unions.
The Unions followed the board
Therefore, Lus’s board of directors brought up the question during Tuesday night’s Thing. The Student Unions followed the board and subsequently chose to appoint Sebastian Persson as vice chairperson of Lus and pay a stipend to him. The decision is in immediate effect.
“I will take on this assignment with passion and pride. Lus and the Student Unions are managing an important area, and I hope to uphold the strong voice of the students”, says Sebastian Persson after the decision.
Lus’s chairperson Cecilia Skoug now hopes that the decision can give Lus security in their work.
“I assume and hope that everything will work as normal”, she says.
Harsh criticism against the process
But it was not all cheerful calls after the decision. Teknologkåren (The Union of Technologists), reserved themselves against the decision and directed harsh criticism against it.
“This solution is so far from mutual civic and democratic rules that it is unjustifiable”, says Teknologkåren’s Chairperson Björn Sanders who considers Lus’s board of directors to have made a decision far outside of their mandate.
Read more about the discussion leading up to the decision and its consequences here.
Translation: Viktor Jönsson
