Optimists suggest changes to the Fair Work Act create a path to permanent employment for long-serving university casuals. The NTEU is not so sure, but is keen to find out

The new law now allows for casuals who have been with an organisation for a year and who have worked a regular pattern of hours for six months, in roles that will continue, to ask for conversion to permanent status, (CMM April 21). Jim Hackett explained how it could help people caught as casuals despite years of service, in CMM here.

The National Tertiary Education Union is not so sure, “where a person works on a semester basis it will be difficult to show there is six months of a regular pattern of hours. And, the employers only need to have ‘reasonable grounds’ not to offer ongoing employment,” it tells members.

But the union wants to find out – it urges casuals to ask their university if they qualify for on-going employment and if not why not. “This is really important, “the NTEU advises,

And it urges members who meet the threshold to get in touch, “the NTEU could test this new legislation for its applicability to our sector.”