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NTEU wins conversions for Union members to permanent jobs
In 2009 union members campaigned to limit the use of fixed term contracts at Swinburne and all other universities across Australia. In March 2010 these limits were made law in the Union Collective Agreement between Swinburne senior management and your union, NTEU.
Over the past twelve months we have identified dozens of jobs where union members have been employed unlawfully on fixed term contracts. Through NTEU investigations and pushing cases forward many members in these jobs have now been converted to ongoing.
Now we have achieved another win in securing ongoing jobs for our members. Under threat of costly prosecutions, Swinburne senior management has agreed to convert a further eight TAFE contract staff into ongoing positions. All these staff are members of NTEU. Their preparedness to stand together in putting their cases forward, and your preparedness to join them in defending their right to secure work, was instrumental in achieving this great outcome.
As recently as 10 days ago the University was refusing to even discuss our call for conversion to ongoing jobs for these members. Securing the livelihoods for another 8 families shows the impact our union is having at Swinburne. We ask that you share this outcome with your colleagues and encourage those that aren't yet members to join your union. Together we can achieve even more. NTEU is open to all staff in the Tertiary Education sector and joining online is only a click away: www.nteu.org.au/join/joinonline
NTEU continues to fight for other members to secure ongoing work. Our General Staff Classification campaign is moving into the next phase with over 60 members participating in classification review. Our Academic Workloads campaign is continuing to grow as we negotiate with senior Swinburne management for fair, transparent and equitable workload models. We'll report in more detail on these campaigns in coming days.
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Branch Contacts
Branch Office
Room N06 -1.09 Patience Thoms Bdg Nathan Campus
Griffith University
Phone: 07 3735 7635
Fax: 07 3735 7964
gu@nteu.org.au
http://www.nteu.org.au/griffith
Dwight Zakus
Branch President
d.zakus@griffith.edu.au
Naomi Anastasi
Branch Organiser
nanastasi@nteu.org.au
Comments
[ -1 ] G'day Rachel and thanks for taking the time to comment. Despite the perception, NTEU doesn't dictate the contracts offered by employers. The limits were determined by the independent umpire after considerable time and evidence. I'm not aware of anyone's needs preferring fixed term contracts - why not ongoing and then a staff member can resign on a certain date if that suits them. Employers can still use fixed term contracts when they are genuinely needed.
Like • Dislike •My last point is that your reference to 'ongoing fixed term contracts' belies the exploitation perpetrated by some unscrupulous employers. If it is ongoing, why would be a fixed term contract?
If you are an NTEU member I'd encourage you to get involved, find out more and see what can be done.
[ -2 ] The other side to this story is that there are some people who are genuinely happy to have ongoing fixed-term contracts who are now finding that the NTEU won't allow them to continue to be employed this way. For some people this arrangement suits their needs, while for others the harsh reality is fixed-term or NOTHING.
Like • Dislike •[ +2 ] Uni Mel next when NTEU will have same Union chief as Swinburne maybe...
Like • Dislike •[ -1 ] Melbourne Uni next???
Like • Dislike •