Swinburners decide where their pay goes

Last week Swinburne U suggested staff could work a voluntary nine-day fortnight, with pay for the tenth being “contribution leave,” to help fill a $30m budget hole (CMM April 24).

But a plan for the Payroll Office to bulk-book such contributions, did not go down well with some Swinburne staff.

Many of you have said you would prefer to book the voluntary contribution leave yourselves,” management acknowledges.

The university does not add what some Swinburners argue, that for anybody but individuals to redirect pay would breach the enterprise agreement.

Whatever its thinking, the university says, “we have taken this suggestion on board and changed our processes.” Staff who want to make the ten per cent contribution can do it as of tomorrow via the on-line pay site.