The National Tertiary Education Union annual report shows numbers up 12 per cent in the first half of the year

The union reached 31 000 members in June, its highest ever and a substantial increase on mid 2019’s 26 600.

The membership increase split 60 per cent on-going and contract staff and 40 per cent casuals. General Secretary Matthew McGowan attributes the growth in members who are casually employed to three-months free membership. Continuing staff who joined, “saw the union as the only effective body to protect their jobs.”

The union’s power bases are in NSW (9000 members) and Victoria (10 600).

The overall growth in membership increased income by $429 000. Income in the 2019-20 financial year was $23,3m with staff costs accounting for $17.2m

“The challenge for the union will come next financial year  when the impact of job losses from across the sector flow through,” Mr McGowan states in the union’s annual report.