Union members at Monash and Victoria (that’s the institution not the state) universities are striking tomorrow over enterprise bargaining issues. There will be a five-hour protected industrial action at Monash and a 24 hour one at VU.

The action at VU builds on the National Tertiary Education Union’s success in demolishing a management bid to have an enterprise agreement adopted. The union campaigned against the bid, which was rejected by 77 per cent of people voting in an all-staff ballot CMM September 25).  The big issue, among may, at VU is the future of academic staff as the university expands teaching-only positions.

The Monash branch of the union wants management to pick up the bargaining pace, with 15 months of talks failing to settle arguments over pay, discipline procedures and workload requirements. A proposed administration restructure in the arts faculty, announced last week will add to staff disquiet. NTEU state president Nic Kimberley says the prop was sprung on effected staff, despite management having had it for months.