A committee with representatives from the higher education union and the university system’s peak industrial association approves COVID-19 savings plans at La Trobe U, Monash U and UWA

Where this came from: In April, four vice chancellors, with the National Tertiary Education Union, and uni managements’ Australian Higher Education Industrial Association proposed a national accord. The union would support agreed concessions on wages and conditions at individual universities. In return institutions would submit their COVID 19 financial situation to an independent committee, including NTEU and AHEIA reps and an independent chair.

It was greeted by a nupathon from most Australian university managements, who, among other reasons, did not like the external oversight.

But three of the four VCs who negotiated the original deal went ahead and the committee reports are now in for their La Trobe U, Monash U,and UWA. (The fourth VC, Charles Sturt U’s Andrew Vann, could not convince his council).

What happened: The committee checked the three university’s savings plans, including temporary cuts to wages and conditions and judged them commensurate to revenue shortfalls and the number of jobs they would save.  The universities have already put the packages to staff votes which were carried at all three.

It worked: Despite internal union opposition at all three unis, this has been a relatively no-fuss process. Western Sydney U, and Uni Tasmania, which adapted the NTEU-AHEIA model, also have staff agreements.

In contrast, universities that are going it alone to convince staff to accept cuts to staff pay and conditions in return fo reduced departures are having tougher times. Uni Melbourne lost a staff vote, Uni Wollongong’s staff rejected two cuts-options from management and the university is now in-talks with campus unions. ANU staff voted for management’s savings plan, which the local NTEU opposed, but it only just got up, with a 50.46 per cent yes vote.