Unions at Southern Cross U split over savings plan

This is good for the university’s proposal

The National Tertiary Education Union is urging members to vote against a management proposal to end and then delay pay-rises to make COVID-19 savings, arguing a no would force the university to commit to job security.

However, the Community and Public Sector Union says management has agreed to a voluntary redundancy process, “in an effort to match organisational changes with employee preferences (to) save as many jobs as possible.”

“There is no question our university faces a genuine financial crisis that requires everyone in the university community to step-up and respond with pragmatic, but difficult, decisions,” the CPSU, which represents professional staff, tells the SCU community.

This is a positive for management’s plan. Universities which put proposals to staff that unions oppose generally lose ballots – workers who are not members often follow union leads on industrial issues.

But a rare split between unions changes prospects.

Back in 2013 Charles Sturt U put a proposed enterprise agreement to staff, which the CPSU supported and the NTEU opposed (CMM September 10 2013).  Vice Chancellor Andrew Vann went to a vote and with 1850 of 2200 staff turning-out it was adopted with a 60 per cent majority (CMM September 22 2013).