QUT will put savings measures to a staff vote, with the support of campus unions

Vice Chancellor Margaret Sheil told staff yesterday the proposals are part of plan to address a $100m shortfall this year.

Staff are asked to accept; * postponing the next Enterprise Agreement 2 per cent pay rise until December 2021 * no leave loading for 18 months * staff taking leave over Christmas this year and next

In return the university commits to: * a moratorium on forced redundancies before June 2021 * staff re-training * maintaining superannuation contributions

The proposal is largely in-line with the job protection framework negotiated by the National Tertiary Education Union and four vice chancellors. It includes QUT agreeing to an independent committee assessing its crisis savings. 

The national accord is already adopted by  staff at La Trobe U, Monash U and, UWA, with staff accepting local versions at Uni Tasmania and Western Sydney U.

The QUT proposal now goes to a staff vote to vary the enterprise agreement. With the support of the NTEU and the other campus union, Together, it is expected to be adopted. No university-unions joint proposal has been rejected in a staff vote during the COVID-19 crisis.

Professor Sheil is expected to announce structure and strategy changes this week.