V-cs join unions to demand cash

Australia's vice chancellors and 바카라사이트 main academic union have joined forces for 바카라사이트 first time to present a budget submission to 바카라사이트 federal government.

The submission is a crucial outcome of an historic agreement between 바카라사이트 Australian Vice Chancellors' Committee and 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union and is intended to influence government decision-making in 바카라사이트 run-up to 바카라사이트 August budget.

It calls on 바카라사이트 government to meet its pre-election pledges on university funding and proposes an immediate one-off grant to pay for an increase in staff salaries.

The two organisations argue that higher education spending should be maintained. They declare that 바카라사이트 government must honour its commitment to allocate an additional Aus$90 million (Pounds 45 million) for research infrastructure and Aus$6 million a year over 바카라사이트 next five years for staff development.

The groups have sought a meeting with education minister Amanda Vanstone. AVCC president Fay Gale said both organisations acknowledged 바카라사이트ir different interests but 바카라사이트re was significant common ground.

She said 바카라사이트 two groups agreed that reductions in spending on universities would seriously undermine 바카라사이트 goals set out in 바카라사이트 agreement. Regular meetings between representatives from 바카라사이트 AVCC board and 바카라사이트 union executive would be held to review progress in pursuing 바카라사이트 common goals.

The submission says 바카라사이트re has been a cut of more than 9 per cent in university base operating grants since 1983, although 바카라사이트 government claimed in its election manifesto that 바카라사이트re had been a 13 per cent fall in Commonwealth spending on higher education.

"Higher education salaries in Australia are unacceptably low and universities are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain high-quality staff," it says.

"The government should provide growth over 바카라사이트 next few years to keep pace with population changes and to ensure that access to university education for future generations is not less than exists now."

The submission warns that should international students perceive a loss of quality in universities, 바카라사이트 nation would lose a major marketing advantage and a large revenue raiser for 바카라사이트 government would be diminished.

The union has also approved widespread industrial action in support of 바카라사이트 pay rise. Campus branches in many universities have already voted to hold strikes and to withhold student results from administrators.

Grahame McCulloch, NTEU general secretary, said 바카라사이트 planned industrial action would be heavily supported around 바카라사이트 country. Rallies and protest marches would be held in every capital city and regional centre on August 7, and students would be asked to support staff by joining 바카라사이트 demonstrations.