There is no savings agreement and nobody is pleased

The National Tertiary Education Union responded yesterday to Vice Chancellor Zelinsky who has told staff that in the absence of an agreement with unions the university will have find additional savings from “restructuring, course reviews and other efficiencies,” (CMM yesterday).

However, NTEU NSW assistant secretary Damien Cahill says this is all down to the VC.

Dr Cahill states the union, “was willing to negotiate a variation to the enterprise agreement that secured the economic sustainability of the university whilst also ensuring financial transparency and saving jobs.” He argues talks failed over issues including the union’s demand for “enforceable job security provisions.”

The key issue was management’s proposal to defer two 2 per cent pay rises due next month and in September 2021 to the end of next year.