Western Sydney U comments on the proposed enterprise agreement are way too modest

The university and campus branch of the National Tertiary Education Union have agreed on terms for enterprise agreement pay rises and for WSU academic casuals to have first chance at 150 new continuing jobs (CMM yesterday),

But university management properly wants it known that the proposal still has to be signed-off in a staff vote. Western Sydney U also thanks both campus unions, the other is the CPSU, for “their constructive engagement in the bargaining process to date.”

Good-o, but university management also deserves a share of the credit for what is said to have been a long and difficult negotiation in uncertain times which addresses the high profile issue of academics in insecure employment without ignoring the needs of other university staffers – notably lower paid professional staff, who will receive a top-up to base salary as part of the proposal.

If, as seems exceeding likely, staff approve, the new Western Sydney U agreement will be a model for bargaining across the country.