National Tertiary Education Union members have voted to take protected industrial action over enterprise bargaining

The margin in favour was 90 per cent plus.

The union claims bargaining has been underway for ten months with notable issues unresolved including pay, regulation of workloads and casual staff being paid for all hours worked.

The vote, “should send a strong message to Uni Newcastle Uni (that) It is time to invest in staff, starting with a proper pay rise that reflects rising costs of living and the sacrifices staff have made to keep the institution operational during the pandemic,” NTEU state secretary Damien Cahill says.

However Uni Newcastle DVC Global, Kent Anderson responds, the university has been working with both the NTEU and the other campus union, the CPSU, with “significant progress in strengthening benefits and conditions that work for our staff, while ensuring our University remains financially sustainable for the long-term.

“We will of course do our best to inform students and colleagues with early notice of any proposed NTEU action to minimise the impact on their education and work.”