Back to Swinburne University of Technology

Sessional Swinburne Staff Join NTEU

Posted 29 November 2011 by Josh Cullinan (Swinburne University of Technology)

Over the past 18 months NTEU has achieved many significant outcomes for sessional staff.

Outcomes
 
The Union Collective Agreement we negotiated with the senior Swinburne management group:

•          Increased the loading paid to sessional staff,\
•          Separated marking payment from the ‘built up’ rate, meaning marking is now paid separately, and,
•          Introduced systems for improving job security for sessionals, including new 2 year full time teaching and research contracts only for sessional staff.

 
With the support of sessional NTEU members we have:

•          Won significant pay outcomes in the Faculty of Business and Enterprise (FBE),
•          Improved annual sessional pay in the Faculty of Information Communication Technology (FICT) by over $250k, including backpay for union members of over $30k,
•          Implemented the Early Career Development Fellowships (2 year fixed term teaching and research positions available only to Swinburne sessional staff) with 3 appointments and 8 positions currently advertised, and,
•          Stopped Faculty of Design (FoD) from trying to cut wages and ensuring the right wages were paid, worth many $1000s to sessional staff.

 
2012 Negotiations

In 2012 we will be negotiating the next Union Collective Agreement for all Swinburne staff. We want sessional staff to not only be included in determining what will be in the Agreement, we want sessional staff to be the loudest voice of all. To have your voice heard, you must be a member of NTEU. We have heavily discounted fully tax deductible membership rates ($55 to $110 per annum) for sessional staff because we recognise for many sessional staff the income and job security is precarious. We want to change this and we need your help to do this. Just think, 2 years ago separate marking payments were virtually unheard of – this month, they are a workplace right. In 2012 we want to achieve even more.
 
We will be calling all sessional staff members together before Semester One 2012 to plan how we will campaign for better job security and better wages. To be part of this group, please join NTEU today.

More Information
 
For more information on the outcomes NTEU has won for sessionals or how you can join NTEU call us on 9214 8162 or email swinburne@nteu.org.au. Alternatively you can contact Josh Cullinan directly on 0416 241 763 or Wayne on 0438 333 665. We can also arrange an appointment to discuss these issues and how joining NTEU can deliver for you and your colleagues.

Josh Cullinan & Wayne Cupido on behalf of
NTEU Swinburne Branch Committee
 
Ps – if you are already an NTEU Member, please ask your colleagues to join and stay tuned for your invite to the Swinburne Sessionals Campaign Committee meeting in 2012!