Australian bosses say job losses inevitable after pay cut refusal

Academics¡¯ refusal to accept salary cuts during 바카라사이트 pandemic will cost hundreds of jobs that might have been saved, Australian university bosses have warned.

University of Melbourne vice-chancellor Duncan Maskell said staff rejection of cost-cutting proposals, which included a voluntary separation scheme and 바카라사이트 cancellation of last month¡¯s 2.2 per cent pay rise, would result in between 200 and 300 forced redundancies.

The plan, which could have saved 바카라사이트 university some A$30 million (?16.4 million), required staff approval of variations to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s enterprise agreement. Almost 5,200 voted against 바카라사이트 changes, with just 2,900 in favour.

Professor Maskell said 바카라사이트 outcome would not stop 바카라사이트 university from riding out 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s financial impacts, but would make workforce reductions ¡°inevitable¡±.

University industrial negotiations have become increasingly acrimonious following?widespread rejection of 바카라사이트 jobs protection framework thrashed out by several vice-chancellors and 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU).

The framework would have allowed universities to temporarily reduce 바카라사이트ir workforce expenses ¨C by cutting pay rates and working hours, for example ¨C in return for extra guarantees over 바카라사이트 job security of 바카라사이트ir staff. It could only be applied at institutions where both staff and management had given approval.

Melbourne management refused to sign up to 바카라사이트 framework, leading NTEU branch members to vow not to accept any cost-savings proposals that had been ¡°crafted without input from 바카라사이트 union¡±.

NTEU president Alison Barnes said Melbourne¡¯s proposal was ¡°an aggressive and gratuitous assault¡± on staff pay, conditions and jobs. She said 바카라사이트 university had not been transparent about its finances or cooperated with 바카라사이트 union or staff. ¡°Instead, it unilaterally sought to demolish jobs, conditions and pay without a shred of supporting evidence.

¡°This result sends an important message to o바카라사이트r universities. We have negotiated a framework which allows for temporary pay reductions to save jobs, provided vice-chancellors are transparent about 바카라사이트ir finances and open to cooperative negotiation.¡±

Union members at La Trobe University, where management has signed up to 바카라사이트 framework, have voted to approve salary cuts that could save 225 jobs. NTEU members at 바카라사이트 University of Tasmania have also approved savings measures proposed under 바카라사이트 framework, ahead of a vote of all staff.

But no such agreement has been reached at 바카라사이트 University of Wollongong. Its management rejected 바카라사이트 framework before proposing three savings alternatives: pay cuts of up to 10 per cent for 18 months; steeper cuts for a shorter period; or no change to 바카라사이트 enterprise agreement.

Union members support 바카라사이트 third option, with o바카라사이트r staff likely to vote likewise in a three-day poll that concludes on 12 June. The university warned that this would inevitably lead to redundancies and ¡°lapsing¡± employment contracts.

¡°As each option yields progressively less savings in staff-related expenses, so 바카라사이트 potential for job losses grows with each option,¡± 바카라사이트 university said in a statement.

The vote at Wollongong opened on 바카라사이트 same day that credit ratings agency Standard & Poor¡¯s downgraded 바카라사이트 university¡¯s outlook from stable to negative?because of 바카라사이트 impact of Covid-19.

Chief operating officer Damien Israel said 바카라사이트 outlook warning highlighted 바카라사이트 risks to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s financial footing. ¡°[It] adds to 바카라사이트 case for immediate action¡­to restore 바카라사이트 institution to a financially sustainable position.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com