“in recent times some universities have failed to pay their casual staff properly – something that clearly should not have happened and which all universities must address as a matter of urgency. We can do better. We will,” Unis Aus chair and La Trobe U VC John Dewar, National Press Club yesterday.

They have certainly been addressing it at LT U – since December 2020 when management asked casuals about possible underpayment. The university was still working on it in April, (yes, April just passed, CMM April 29). But now questions of what casual academics at LT U are paid for marking look nearly sorted.  Any amounts owing will be paid by the end of the month and guidelines will be in place so that future payments are “accurate and consistent,” LT U yesterday told CMM, who sort of guessed that things must have been finally fixed when Professor Dewar spoke.