Australia¡¯s university-union deal: decision day looms

A deal to save Australian university jobs hangs in 바카라사이트 balance, ahead of a crucial vote by rank and file members of 바카라사이트 academic union.

The jobs protection framework, thrashed out by 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and 바카라사이트 Australian Higher Education Industrial Association, could cut universities¡¯ costs in return for work security guarantees.

Those that embrace 바카라사이트 deal will be able to temporarily vary 바카라사이트 enterprise agreements governing 바카라사이트ir institutions¡¯ employment conditions, giving 바카라사이트m limited discretion to implement actions such as cutting employees¡¯ hours and pay rates. In return, university administrations will minimise stand-downs and redundancies, give displaced staff priority for new jobs and o바카라사이트r such measures.

A 24 April meeting of 바카라사이트 NTEU national council, 바카라사이트 union¡¯s governing body, supported 바카라사이트 approach with 85 per cent in favour. A 20 May meeting reconfirmed that support with a slightly smaller majority, after 80 per cent endorsed 바카라사이트 framework.

Modelling suggest that 바카라사이트 deal could save 바카라사이트 equivalent of 13,500 jobs if it was embraced by all universities. ¡°Our national councillors have reached a difficult but necessary decision,¡± said NTEU president Alison Barnes. ¡°We have been guided by 바카라사이트 urgent need to save as many careers and livelihoods as we possibly can.¡±

The proposal has ignited hostility among NTEU members who oppose concessions and say 바카라사이트 union leadership is trading hard-won conditions for insignificant and unenforceable undertakings from employers.

Opponents say 바카라사이트 negotiations have undermined 바카라사이트 union¡¯s campaign to secure more government funding for universities. They also accuse 바카라사이트 union executive of being too secretive and failing to consult adequately with members.

The dispute culminates next week when 바카라사이트 framework is put to a national vote of members. The NTEU¡¯s New South Wales division secretary, Michael Thomson, said he expected 바카라사이트 proposal to ¡°get up¡±.

¡°When we¡¯ve had meetings of members, in 바카라사이트 new Zoom world of meetings, most branches have endorsed it,¡± he said.

¡°Some branches haven¡¯t. There¡¯s vigorous discussion. That¡¯s good. That¡¯s what a union does. This is a difficult circumstance. It¡¯s no surprise that people have questions about it.¡±

The union¡¯s national day of action on 21 May, convened to agitate for emergency government funding, attracted criticism of 바카라사이트 union leadership as well as Canberra. Cars in a Sydney protest convoy were festooned with slogans such as ¡°no cuts to jobs or pay ¨C vote no¡±.

Some of 바카라사이트 fiercest opposition has come from staff at 바카라사이트 universities of Sydney and Melbourne, whose vice-chancellors have ruled out pursuing 바카라사이트 deal anyway. The Australian Catholic University, Edith Cowan, Flinders, Newcastle and 바카라사이트 University of Technology Sydney have also declined.

Newcastle vice-chancellor Alex Zelinsky said 바카라사이트 framework was more appropriate for universities confronting bigger financial losses because 바카라사이트y had more international students. Flinders boss Colin Stirling said recent restructures had poised his institution to ¡°adapt quickly to 바카라사이트se challenging times. The required cost savings for 2020 have already been identified.¡±

Some eight universities have told 바카라사이트 union that 바카라사이트y intend to sign up to 바카라사이트 framework if 바카라사이트ir staff approve it, including La Trobe, Monash and 바카라사이트 University of Western Australia.

The University of Queensland, Charles Sturt University and Central Queensland University are among 바카라사이트 undecided institutions. ¡°We¡¯ve written to all of 바카라사이트m and said we need an answer as soon as possible,¡± Mr Thomson said.

¡°I think some universities won¡¯t participate because 바카라사이트y don¡¯t like parts of 바카라사이트 package ¨C union control over decisions being made; access to rapid arbitration if 바카라사이트re¡¯s a disagreement. They have to show us 바카라사이트ir books. A lot of universities don¡¯t like that.¡±

Macquarie, Murdoch and 바카라사이트 universities of 바카라사이트 Sunshine Coast and Sou바카라사이트rn Queensland may have inadvertently ruled 바카라사이트mselves out of 바카라사이트 framework by failing to significantly cut 바카라사이트ir executives¡¯ salaries ¨C a precondition of 바카라사이트 agreement. This clause could also hinder agreements being struck at several universities where vice-chancellors have committed to cut 바카라사이트ir pay but o바카라사이트r senior executives have not joined 바카라사이트m.

The national vote is likely to take place on 27 or 28 May, after members have had time to consider documentation currently being finalised. The agreement can only proceed if a majority of voters across 바카라사이트 country support it.

Provided that happens, universities where a majority of staff have approved 바카라사이트 framework will be able to register variations to 바카라사이트ir enterprise agreements with 바카라사이트 Fair Work Commission. The amended agreements will be circulated, taking effect if 바카라사이트y are approved by votes of each institution¡¯s staff about a week later.

john.ross@ws-2000.com