Union action will disrupt classes at the University of Newcastle Wednesday week as National Tertiary Education Union members stop work to protest lack of progress in enterprise bargaining negotiations. “The university has continued to rebuff NTEU attempts to achieve reasonable improvements in conditions for staff,” says Roger Marwick, acting NTEU branch president.

The union says bargaining started a year back but management continues to offer “what amounts to a pay cut in real terms over the next three years.”

The union is looking for a deal before new VC Alex Zelinsky takes over in November, saying “the NTEU has real concerns about the commitment of management bargaining representatives to reach an agreement.” That sounds right to CMM – with barely three months to go outgoing VC Caroline McMillen may not want to lock her successor into a four-year wage deal.