University of Queensland ballot result a win for NTEU, a blow for Reith's agenda
28 October 1999
Academic Staff at the University of Queensland have resoundingly rejected the University’s proposed enterprise agreement, which was put to a ballot of all staff.
1637 (43.3%) of academic staff voted in the ballot. Of the 1582 formal votes, 62.3% voted against the University’s offer.
`Academic staff have delivered a strong rebuff to the University management’s agenda,’ said NTEU Branch President Associate-Professor Kuldip Bedi. `They have rejected management attempts to force reduced job security, a poor payrise and easier dismissal provisions. I believe that the overwhelming majority of academic staff want management and NTEU to resume negotiations so that a settlement is reached, satisfactory to both parties. It’s time for management to return to the bargaining table with a competitive pay offer and improved conditions of employment.'
NTEU General Secretary Grahame McCulloch said that the result represented a defeat for the Federal Government, which is seeking to force non-union agreements and reduced conditions of employment on university staff.
`Staff are not prepared to accept the Government’s bribe of additional funding in return for diminished conditions of employment,’ he said. `It’s time for all Vice-Chancellors to reject Peter Reith’s regressive agenda for universities, and to instead support their staff.’
NTEU (QLD) Division Secretary Howard Guille said that the University of Queensland was one of the richest universities in the country, and clearly had the capacity to meet a competitive salary increase while ensuring job security and satisfactory employment conditions.