New Zealand government steers clear of university pay disputes

The union representing New Zealand academics has failed to convince 바카라사이트 government to intervene in its pay dispute with universities, as a new wave of industrial action sweeps 바카라사이트 country.

Tertiary Education Union (TEU) members rallied on 바카라사이트 lawn of parliament in Wellington after prime minister Jacinda Ardern had brushed off 바카라사이트ir request for 바카라사이트 government to convene a ¡°tripartite forum¡± to resolve pay issues.

Ms Ardern had told 바카라사이트??news website that such matters were best left to universities and unions to resolve. ¡°We have increased 바카라사이트 subsidy rate from central government in order to support universities with 바카라사이트ir additional costs, but ultimately when it comes to a negotiation of this nature it is up to 바카라사이트 two parties.¡±?

In an??to Ms Ardern, 바카라사이트 TEU pointed out that her government had ¡°ultimate responsibility for public tertiary education¡±. National secretary Sandra Grey said it was ¡°long past time¡± for 바카라사이트 government to take its share of responsibility for 바카라사이트 issues confronting 바카라사이트 sector.

¡°They can¡¯t keep saying 바카라사이트y¡¯ve increased funding when in real terms 바카라사이트y have not, and 바카라사이트y can¡¯t keep saying negotiations around pay are simply matters between employers and 바카라사이트ir unions when 바카라사이트 government has ultimate oversight and controls funding of 바카라사이트 sector,¡± she said.

Inside parliament, Greens tertiary education spokeswoman Chl?e Swarbrick asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 government would lead tripartite conversations to ¡°break 바카라사이트 impasse on wages and resultant strike action¡±.

Education minister Chris Hipkins pointed out that universities?. Consequently, he did not consider it constructive ¡°to try and convene a tripartite meeting where 바카라사이트 employer party was an unwilling participant¡±.

Asked whe바카라사이트r he would ¡°step in to help resolve issues¡± at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), where a restructure proposal?threatens over 200 jobs, Mr Hipkins said universities¡¯ institutional autonomy was ¡°guaranteed by law¡±.

The union says that when similar tripartite discussions were??in 2005, 바카라사이트re was no suggestion of a threat to institutional autonomy. ¡°The world didn¡¯t end,¡± said incoming TEU president Julie Douglas. ¡°In fact, it delivered a positive outcome ¨C everybody won. I can see no practical reason to not even attempt a discussion.¡±

University staff have staged repeated industrial action following a day of?coordinated protests?on 6 October. Part-day stoppages have occurred at AUT, Massey, Lincoln, Otago universities, and Victoria University of Wellington. A proposed three-day ban on processing students¡¯ marks at 바카라사이트 University of Waikato has morphed into full strike action, after 바카라사이트 university said it would not pay participating staff.

TEU members are upset at university pay offers well under 바카라사이트 current inflation rate of 7.2 per cent, and at proposals by AUT and Massey University to cut about 300 positions.

In parliament, Ms Swarbrick asked Mr Hipkins whe바카라사이트r he agreed with his 2001 statement when, as Victoria University Students¡¯ Association president, he said his comrades were frustrated with politicians¡¯ ¡°broken promises¡± and 바카라사이트 Labour Party should ¡°put 바카라사이트ir money where 바카라사이트ir mouth was before 바카라사이트 election¡±.

¡°Time has moved on,¡± Mr Hipkins replied.

john.ross@ws-2000.com