NTEU Endorses 24% Pay Claim For Higher Education Enterprise Bargaining Round 2003-2006
October 6 2002
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), representing nearly 26,000 academic and general staff from universities across Australia, will today adopt an ambitious agenda of salary, industrial and professional claims that the Union will pursue nationally in the upcoming enterprise bargaining round for the higher education sector.
The centrepiece of the enterprise bargaining claim, formulated at the NTEU’s National Council Meeting taking place in Melbourne, will see the Union’s branches in all 38 of Australia’s public universities pursue a common wage claim of 24% for the period 2003-6.
“The NTEU National Council believes the Union’s salary claim is affordable, reasonable and necessary in order for university staff to maintain their position relative to the workforce generally and other key comparable sectors in particular,” said Grahame McCulloch, NTEU General Secretary.
“The NTEU’s enterprise bargaining agenda will be much broader than just improving the wages of our members,” said Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President. “Both academic and general staff at all universities tell us that tackling issues such as casualisation, excessive workloads and declining job security are critical to improving both their working lives and the quality of Australia’s higher education system.”
“The NTEU will also ensure that measures to improve the career opportunities for our existing Indigenous members in universities and creating more employment opportunities for all Indigenous people generally in higher education, will be a part of every enterprise bargaining agreement.”
“This is part of the NTEU’s commitment to both the industrial and social justice rights of our Indigenous members, and a recognition of the vital role that higher education has in promoting reconciliation between Australia and Indigenous people,” said Dr Allport.
“Another key focus of all agreements that will be negotiated by the Union will be measures to reduce the levels of casual employment in universities, while pursuing better wages and conditions for casual staff.”
The enterprise bargaining claims that will be adopted at the NTEU National Council today arise from extensive consultations with the Union’s members, including surveys and meetings at every university.
For information and comment contact:
Grahame McCulloch, NTEU General Secretary: 0418 322620
Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President: 0419 349064
Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator: 0438 026277