Research Staff
Who are research staff?
The great majority of university staff contribute to research. All academic staff play a direct role in research activity as part of their core academic duties, while many general staff are engaged in research activity as part of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programs or as part of specific research projects.
Within this great majority of university staff, there are a large number of academic and general staff workers who specialise in, or are required to spend the bulk of their time on, research activity. Many of these staff are employed in areas or projects funded by Government research agencies such as the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC). There are also many research workers employed by research institutes allied with, or affiliated to universities, and a growing number employed in Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) sponsored by universities, and other public and private agencies.
Issues confronting research staff Key industrial and employment issues, particularly for those staff employed on projects funded by ARC, NH&MRC and like grants, include:
- Employment insecurity with the widespread use and abuse of fixed-term contracts.
- Broken service associated with fixed-term contracts
- Lack of recognition of service for long service and professional development leave purposes.
- Lack of career progression and/or promotion opportunities.
- Salary and classification levels, including whether positions should be classified as academic or general staff.
- Protection of intellectual freedom
Addressing these issues
The NTEU University of Sydney Branch has begun to address these issues and in the most recent round of enterprise bargaining won the following conditions:
- A new classification structure for Research Only staff - this will recognise the specific skills of Research staff and help to define Research staff career progression and promotion opportunities.
- Recognition of continuity of service between fixed-term contracts with a break of 6 months or less so that there is continuity of service for the purpose of long service leave.
Research staff face particular issues due to the specific nature of their work. We offer research h staff industrial advice and assistance - our staff have a great deal of experience in dealing with issues relevant to research staff and are working hard to improve salaries, working conditions , career progression and access to staff development. NTEU gives you that collective voice.
Join the NTEU. For more information on the NTEU you can visit the Branch in room 214, Transient building F12 or you can contact the Branch on 9351 2827 or email us at nteu@nteu.usyd.edu.au.
Further information:
| The Joan Hardy Scholarship | The NTEU is offering a $2000 scholarship for post-graduate nursing research. |