The university has new ideas about reducing staff

In September management proposed operating areas where it preferred to see staff take voluntary separation packages. It’s now put a hold on some and expanded others.

The 277 FTE positions the university intends to lose is in-line with the savings agreement reached with the union in June, with sources of VSPs first suggested last month, (CMM September 17).

Back then management nominated the library, research support and student admin as areas where people could be spared but yesterday job cuts to elements of all areas were put on hold, subject to meeting workplace change negotiations.

However, the number of academic areas where staff in low-enrolment areas have priority for VSP has expanded to include economics, management, and departments in engineering.  That’s staff in general in academic operating units , not specific individuals in them , but Monash observers suggest deans will know who they want to go and may encourage some applications for voluntary separations more than others.

One previously affected AOU appears to have had a win. The Centre for Theatre and Performance will move to what is now the Sir Zelman Cowen Music School. This follows lobbying, including from well-organised students, who suggested this move, (CMM September 29).

Staff who want out and are approved to exit will be told in the week commencing November 2. And if the university does not get all the FTE exits it needs, “a move to involuntary redundancies on the basis of permanent insufficiency of work would follow further consultation prior to proceeding.”