Union forces pay rise at Southern Cross
Union forces pay rise at Southern Cross
…but VC washes his hands of further responsibility
National Tertiary Education Union (Southern Cross University Branch) members today welcomed the decision of the Vice Chancellor to give all staff a pay increase , after management was given an ultimatum on responding to a settlement offer by the Union last Wednesday. However many University staff expressed dismay at VC John Rickard’s apparent attempt to absolve himself of responsibility on the issue of staff pay and conditions for the remainder of his time at Southern Cross, while continuing to collect the $460 000 salary package paid to him by the University.
The 3% pay increase was communicated to all staff by email late last week and comes into effect on 1 July. In his message to staff the VC’s only other commitment was that one of his “outgoing recommendations as VC will be that the next VC carefully reviews the financial position … to see whether there may be some scope for further pay rises for staff”.
The VC awarded the pay rise after considerable pressure had mounted on him to make steps to negotiate with the Union in good faith. Early in March, staff reacted angrily to University management’s then pay offer of roughly half that agreed at any other University. A fiery union meeting unanimously passed a motion of no confidence in the Vice Chancellor’ negotiate in good faith, which within days was endorsed by at least half of SCU’s staff who signed a petition endorsing the motion.
Dr Paul Gannon, President of the NTEU (SCU Branch), which represents both academic and general staff of the University, was adamant that staff would not accept a further wait until the new Vice Chancellor took office late this year. “Trying to have productive discussions with the University has been like pulling teeth” he said.
“While we welcome the pay rise, staff are still furious that the VC is refusing to make steps towards progress on any other issues at least as important as pay, including staff workloads, career paths for general staff and parental leave”.
“It is likely that despite the pay increase, our members will insist on demanding the University management get on with making a fair response towards our settlement offer so that we can quickly finalise the new enterprise agreement, the negotiations for which have already gone on far too long” said Dr Gannon.
“Staff will not wait for a part time Vice Chancellor to hand over the reins” .
Dr Gannon also said the VC’s message to staff was misleading, in reference to the VCs assertion that the 3% pay increase from 1 July is allowed for in this year’s budget.
“A 3% pay rise from 1 July actually equates to a 1.5% increase in salaries for the year. If he was to truly reflect the budgetary allowance, he would have offered 6% from 1 July”, he said.
“The truth is that the NTEU’s latest claim - a 19% pay rise over 3 years and back dated to July 1st last year - is affordable by the University. It remains for someone who is honest in the executive team to simply stand up and say so!”
Contact: Paul Gannon, NTEU Branch President, (02) 6620 3761 or 0408 240 579