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Media Release: UWA targets Facilities Management Staff in Restructure
UWA Management has announced a large scale restructuring of the University’s Directorate of Facilities Management. The restructure, which was announced on July 12, is expected to result in a number of staff being made redundant. The full scope of proposed changes remains unclear, as the proposals provided to staff do not give a clear indication of the number of positions that Management is proposing to cut. The NTEU is however aware of a number of staff who have been told by Management that there will be no place for them in the new structure.
UWA Facilities Management Staff at NTEU Meeting July 15 2010
Facilities Management includes staff involved in maintaining the Universities grounds and infrastructure. Many of these staff played a key role in responding to the critical emergency during and carrying out repairs to the University’s grounds and buildings following the damaging hail storm in March.
Dr Jamie O’Shea, NTEU UWA Branch President said, “UWA’s reputation as a world class university depends not just on the research and teaching performed by academic and professional staff at the university, but also on the quality of the grounds and other facilities at UWA. This quality is a consequence of the hard work of the Facilities Management staff and on the ongoing commitment of these staff members to the University. A commitment exemplified by the effort to enable Graduation Ceremonies to be held as scheduled within days of the storm”.
Dr O’Shea continued, “While change can provide great opportunities for renewal and growth, when staff to not feel confidence and trust in Management, the threat of change can ruin people’s working lives. NTEU members are calling on UWA Management to provide Facilities Management staff with job security and to ensure that any restructure does not result in an increase in the already substantial workloads faced by these staff members. The NTEU is concerned that any such increase could raise occupational health and safety risks for staff”.
For Further Comment Contact:
Dr Jamie O’Shea, President, NTEU UWA Branch
Branch Contacts
Branch Office
Room 435 Bdg 8 Joondalup Campus
Edith Cowan University
Phone: 08 6304 5969
Fax: 08 6304 5822
j.vandalen@ecu.edu.au
http://www.nteu.org.au/ecu
Geoffrey Lummis
Branch President
g.lummis@ecu.edu.au
Jayne van Dalen
Branch Organiser
j.vandalen@ecu.edu.au
