CAMPAIGN UPDATE
November 6 2003
Following the enormously successful National Strike on 16 October, the Union has been continuing the battle against the Government at local and national levels.
Important events and developments since the strike day have included;
Sydney University – the campaign continues
The University reneged on its agreement with the NTEU following the publication of the government’s Workplace Relations Requirements on 22 September. This led to strike action on 7 October as well as the National Strike on 16 October. The Sydney University Branch has been continuing discussions with the local management, attempting to get them to follow the lead of ANU and sign an Agreement which does not comply with the Requirements.
In light of the refusal of management to do so, members have endorsed a further industrial campaign and are meeting again on 12 November to decide on action.
UTS Management doing Government’s bidding
Despite the general condemnation by Vice-Chancellors of the Government’s push for the introduction of AWAs and the exclusion of unions, management at the University of Technology Sydney are seeking a non-union agreement for senior academic and general staff, and are excluding the NTEU from all discussions about the proposed agreement. This has happened despite the fact that the University gave an undertaking to the Commission in 2000 to include the NTEU in the negotiations for any future agreements. In the discussions with staff, the management representatives have also seriously misled staff about their existing employment rights.
As a result of all this, the NTEU took UTS to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission on 5 November. The Commission set down hearing dates about whether the University was required to adhere top its previous undertakings. In the meantime, the Commission has recommended that the Union be allowed to participate in negotiations if any union member wants them involved.
NTEU is amazed that, at this critical time, UTS management seems to be attacking the rights of its staff, rather than joining in the campaign to protect university independence.
ANU Negotiations Progressing
Following the signing of a Heads of Agreement between the NTEU and the Australian National University, the local NTEU Branch has been continuing to negotiate with the university toward reaching a full agreement for certification. The Branch is hoping to have an Agreement ready for certification in the next few weeks.
Senate Committee Inquiry
The Senate Committee Inquiry into the Government’s Backing Australia’s Future budgetary package will hand down its Report on 7 November. The NTEU has prepared a main submission and two supplementary submissions to the Inquiry – the most recent of which was lodged on 29 October.
NTEU President, Carolyn Allport and General Secretary, Grahame McCulloch, gave evidence to the Inquiry on 17 October. Their evidence concentrated on the level of unnecessary and unwarranted intrusion into the internal affairs of universities, threats to institutional autonomy and academic freedom, the impact of funding on institutional finances and the effect of the government’s proposals on enterprise bargaining in higher education. They were asked questions about the success of and support for the union’s industrial action on 15 October. Click here for a copy of the evidence of the transcript of the NTEU’s evidence.
Senate Debate on Bill from 24 November
It is expected that the debate on the Bill will commence on 24 November. There are only eight sitting days prior to Christmas. The NTEU National Office is carrying out an even more detailed analysis of the Bill to assist Senators in pointing out the Bill's problems.