V-cs gain right to sack staff

Australian vice chancellors have greater power to sack staff following an Industrial Relations Commission decision.

The federal commission accepted proposals by 바카라사이트 vice chancellors to simplify dismissal procedures after two years of dispute, including strikes and work bans, between universities and academics.

Under 바카라사이트 new regulations, a vice chancellor has 바카라사이트 sole authority to impose penalties, including dismissal in 바카라사이트 case of serious misconduct. This compares with 바카라사이트 former complex procedures that had to be followed when academics were charged with misconduct, unsatisfactory performance or whose positions had become redundant.

The commission rejected union arguments that internal tribunals set up to investigate claims of misconduct or unsatisfactory performance should continue to have 바카라사이트 power to recommend what action should be taken. In future, 바카라사이트 committees will only have an advisory or fact-finding role.

But 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union immediately warned that academics would take whatever action was necessary to protect 바카라사이트mselves if vice chancellors seized 바카라사이트 new powers to sack staff or impose redundancies.

Grahame McCulloch, union general secretary, said local branches would be far more aggressive in seeking job security guarantees during enterprise bargaining negotiations as a result of 바카라사이트 long-awaited decision.

"The finding is a grave disappointment as it has confirmed 바카라사이트 increasing trend towards central management authority in universities, at 바카라사이트 expense of proper collegial processes," Mr McCulloch said.

"The power to make recommendations on penalties has been taken away from appropriately constituted collegial committees and handed to each vice chancellor. Based on experience, 바카라사이트 union is not convinced that all vice chancellors will use 바카라사이트se powers appropriately."

In 1993, 바카라사이트 Australian Higher Education Industrial Association, which represents universities at 바카라사이트 commission asked it to vary 바카라사이트 industrial award covering academic working conditions so as to make it easier for vice chancellors to sack staff.

Russell Blackford, association executive director, said 바카라사이트 changes would make 바카라사이트 award more user-friendly. "We now have a more streamlined set of provisions, with 바카라사이트 major difference being that 바카라사이트 chief executive officer has 바카라사이트 final say," he said.

Academics would still enjoy greater protection than in 바카라사이트 private sector, Dr Blackford said. He dismissed as provocative union claims that collegial processes or academic freedom were threatened. "University employers have a strong commitment to protecting collegiality and 바카라사이트 freedom of academics to propound and debate unpopular and controversial ideas," he said. "The reality is that tough management decisions must be made by 바카라사이트 organisation's chief executive, not a committee of academics."

Mr McCulloch said that although 바카라사이트 union was deeply disappointed with some aspects of 바카라사이트 commission's decision, it was pleased several of its submissions had been adopted. He welcomed retention of 바카라사이트 definitions of misconduct and serious misconduct from 바카라사이트 old award, and 바카라사이트 fact that an academic could only be dismissed if serious misconduct was proved.