The NTEU says the “worst crisis in the history of Australian universities demanded a collective solution”. It isn’t happening
what’s occurred: Last night the National Tertiary Education Union advised members that the proposal for short-term cuts to staff wages and conditions in return for job protections at universities across the country will not go to a national ballot. This was a necessary pre-condition for all-staff votes on proposals designed for individual universities.
The Job Protection Framework was negotiated by the NTEU’s federal leadership, with four VCs, John Dewar (La Trobe U), Margaret Gardner (Monash U) Jane den Hollander (UWA) and Andrew Vann (Charles Sturt U). The Australian Higher Education Industrial Association was also party to the talks.
how so: While the framework was strongly opposed by rank and file NTEU members at some universities, the NTEU leadership blames VCs for rejecting the plan. In particular, the union points to widespread opposition to the framework’s inclusion of oversight of proposed university savings plans by a committee including union representatives.
why now: The numbers were against the deal. The union’s announcement came as Uni Wollongong joined the close to 20 universities where managements have rejected the proposal and following Deakin U, University of Melbourne and CQU announcing their own savings strategies.
The NTEU is angry with: The Australian Higher Education Industrial Association.
“It’s now clear the AHEIA was either not representing a broad coalition of vice chancellors, or negotiated an agreement that gives employees more rights and protections than some vice chancellors were willing to tolerate. It is up to AHEIA to explain why at least 17 of its members have abandoned the solution it negotiated on behalf of the universities.”
However, the union focuses blame on VCs. “The worst crisis in the history of Australian universities demanded a collective solution to save careers and livelihoods. Too many vice chancellors are now baulking at the strong oversight provisions in the jobs framework that guarantee transparency and ensure that any contribution our members make will be dedicated to saving jobs. Vice chancellors appear to have abandoned their industrial association.”
What happens now: The proposal is still expected to be put to union members, and if successful to all staff, at La Trobe U, Monash U and UWA as a variation of enterprise agreements there. Last night Professor Gardner made a strong call for Monash U staff to approve it;
“The federal government has been clear that it will not provide more than the current funding for domestic students. We cannot wait indefinitely for assistance which may or may not come. If we know we cannot meet our bills, we are required to take action – good governance and regulation requires us to do so. If we cannot make up the cash deficit in front of us by these temporary cost-saving measures, we will have to cut a substantial number of jobs through redundancies. And let me reiterate – this is what we are trying our best to avoid.”
As to Charles Sturt U, Council will make a decision in the next seven days.
CMM understands some as yet undeclared universities are interested in modified versions of the framework but the union is not expected to budge on job protections or oversight mechanisms.
The NTEU re-groups: The union leadership tells members, “the NTEU will vigorously oppose any non-union ballot to vary enterprise agreements and we will now escalate our industrial and campaign activities to fight for every job. Now is the time for members to come together as never before to protect the sector and the livelihoods of thousands of higher education workers.”
And the winner is: Dan Tehan. Mr Tehan now has a politically saleable response to demands for emergency funding – why could universities not agree to a national approach to savings? Of course, the policy is not that simple. But the politics is.