Not all the comrades are happy with the plan to cut wages and conditions

The National Tertiary Education Union’s Uni Melbourne branch leadership does not sound keen. When VC Duncan Maskell alluded to changing conditions before yesterday’s announcement, the local union leadership told members, “our branch has NOT commenced negotiations with the University on potential amendments to the Enterprise Agreement.”

“We are yet to see enough evidence that the university’s financial position is dire enough to warrant further attacks on staff wages and conditions.”

The branch said it would oppose any move to cut conditions.

Nor is the arrangement a hit with the Community and Public Sector Union, which represents support staff on campuses.

Late last month the CPSU’s NSW branch warned the NTEU that it would “actively oppose” pay cuts for the people it represents (CMM April 29). And yesterday the branch said it will oppose any campus ballot on the proposal until “obvious and less intrusive measures” are explored.

“Never before have your terms and conditions of employment, which we have developed and negotiated over many years, been under such a threat from such unusual quarters,” the union warns members.