NTEU Opposes Southern Cross EB Ballot
6 August
NTEU has launched a major campaign to defeat a proposed Agreement between the CPSU (Community & Public Sector Union) and the management of Southern Cross University.
The proposed agreement provides for a 4% payrise over one year and freezes all existing conditions until June 2004.
SCU management initiated the ballot last week without warning or prior consultation.
The NTEU opposes the management proposal because;
*the 4% pay offer is not competitive with other increases either negotiated or offered at other universities, which have provided for 5-6% annual increases over three years,
*it fails to deal with key staff issues, such as workload and general staff classification,
*it denies casual staff the benefit of recently negotiated national improvements, such as an increased loading and a right for casual general staff to seek conversion.
The proposed agreement would cover all academic and general staff. It was signed by the CPSU, which has only a small number of general staff members.
A meeting of 100 staff was held on 6 August at the University to discuss the Agreement. The meeting was addressed by Grahame McCulloch, NTEU General Secretary. The sentiment of the meeting was strongly opposed to the management proposal.
Staff will be voting on the proposed agreement until 15 August.
Messages of support should be sent to nteu@scu.edu.au