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MEDIA RELEASE: NTEU members vote for industrial action over inadequate pay offer
National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) members at the University of Queensland (UQ) have unanimously passed a motion of no confidence in Vice Chancellor Paul Greenfield and voted to commence rolling stoppages in two weeks if an improved pay offer is not received before then.
NTEU and UQ management have been negotiating a new Enterprise Agreement for more than two years. While most employment conditions matters are close to resolution, the parties are deadlocked on the important issue of pay. The University refuses to offer more than 16% over the four year period 2008 – 2012, claiming that it lacks the financial capacity to pay more.
However, NTEU’s analysis of UQ’s financial position, based on the University’s financial statements and budget documents, tells a very different story.
“Our analysis shows that UQ has and will run healthy surpluses from 2008 to 2013, and on present trends will be one of the most, if not the most, profitable of the Group of Eight (Go8) universities,” said Dr Andrew Bonnell, NTEU University of Queensland Branch President and Senior Lecturer in History.
“Based on management’s offer, by mid-2012 UQ salaries will have fallen well behind the rest of the Go8 and several other universities, and will rank 19th for academic staff and 25th for professional staff,” Dr Bonnell said.
“UQ is one of Australia’s top performing universities on most measures, but management’s pay offer does not do justice to UQ’s high standing,” NTEU General Secretary Grahame McCulloch said.
“If the University wants to continue to attract and retain the high quality staff that have gotten it to this point, and meet the Vice Chancellor’s aspirations of climbing further up international and national rankings, it needs to improve its pay offer.”
“NTEU’s analysis clearly demonstrates that our 18% minimum settlement proposal will still leave the University with healthy surpluses, the capacity to meet its capital program commitments and still see employee expenses fall as a share of total income. Our proposal is prudent,” Mr McCulloch said.
For further information and comment:
Dr Andrew Bonnell, NTEU UQ Branch President 0400 373 457
Grahame McCulloch, NTEU General Secretary 0418 322 620
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Branch Contacts
Branch Office
2nd level, Albert Coates Complex Mt Helen Campus
University of Ballarat
Phone: 03 5327 9163
Fax: 03 5327 9162
ballarat@vic.nteu.org.au
http://www.nteu.org.au/ballarat
Philippa Wells
Branch President
p.wells@ballarat.edu.au
Athan McCaw
Branch Industrial Organiser
atmccaw@nteu.org.au
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