Union believes victimisation of UQ Academic sends warning signal to university staff nationally
September 26 2002
The NTEU believes a decision by University of Queensland not to renew the contract of a senior academic and outspoken opponent of the University’s plans to introduce full fees, is a serious attack on freedom of speech and a warning to all university staff who do not have protection against arbitrary dismissal, including those on casual or fixed term contracts.
“As a result of this case, the NTEU will be extremely wary in the upcoming enterprise bargaining round of plans by university management to make employment more flexible or to increase the use of casual employment,” said NTEU Queensland Secretary Howard Guille.
George Lafferty, Associate Professor at the UQ School of Business, Economics and Law, and President of the UQ Branch of the NTEU, was informed of management’s decision not to renew his employment without reason in late August.
“The normal procedure with a contract like Lafferty’s is for management to offer continuing employment, particularly when the work is ongoing and the employee’s performance is rated well.”
“No evidence has been made available to the Union that the subjects taught by Lafferty will not continue in 2003 and beyond. He was promoted during his contract and was planning activities he would be undertaking for the School in 2003.”
“The lack of convincing reasons given by management leads the Union to believe that this is victimisation due to Lafferty’s political actions as the head of the NTEU branch at UQ,” said Guille. “This includes his vocal opposition to the University’s proposal for full fee paying domestic undergraduate students and his insistence on management compliance with the current enterprise bargaining agreement.
Lafferty’s case has been the subject of well-attended staff meetings across the three campuses of UQ. A major public rally will be held today at UQ’s St Lucia campus, commencing at 12.30.
“The rally is the first public action in what is shaping up to be a case of major significance for the NTEU,” said NTEU President Dr Carolyn Allport.
“The NTEU National Executive will consider other options for action if UQ management do not resolve the matter to our satisfaction by October 2,” said Dr Allport. “It is vital that the Union win this campaign, not only as a matter of job protection but so that others can run for similar Union positions with the confidence that they will not be putting their full-time jobs at risk.”
For Information and Comment Contact
Howard Guille, Queensland NTEU Secretary:
07-3846 2355 or 0419 673 092
Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President:
07-3846 2355 or 0419 349 064
Associate Professor George Lafferty can be contacted on
(07) 3365 6289 or 0429 488 459
See also the "Save George" pages on this website