Enterprise bargaining at Murdoch University has broken down with the National Tertiary Education Union calling on management to put its proposal to staff without union support. The union says with management refusing to budge on nine issues and no further meetings scheduled the university should either go to a vote by month’s end or undertake to hold off until February, “so that all Murdoch staff can participate.”

“The clear statements from the management negotiators that they will not move their positions indicate that there will be no resolution this side of Christmas,” the union says.

Vice Chancellor Eeva Leinonen’s expressed hope for a deal before the summer holidays now seems forlorn. Unless of course management takes up the union’s challenge and wins.