Uni staff earn 5 star rating but still bottom of the heap on pay
While welcoming the announcement that University of Wollongong staff have gained the recognition of a 5 star rating in the Good Universities Guide, the NTEU has criticised University management for their hypocrisy in praising staff for their achievement on one hand, while maintaining their position in current pay talks that would leave staff with a deal considerably inferior to those reached or on offer at most other Universities in the country.
‘It seems the University is happy to accept accolades for the quality of its research and teaching, but this clearly fails to translate to its treatment of staff, who are themselves the researchers and teachers’ said Kim Draisma, President of the NTEU Wollongong Branch, which represents academic and general staff of the University.
‘The University has told us all along that it intends for Wollongong staff to be “middle of the pack” on pay and conditions when compared to other universities. However, despite us being shown to be considerably ahead of the pack on our research, the University is only prepared to make a pay offer that leaves us amongst the lowest paid university staff in the country’ said Ms Draisma.
‘In order to maintain these high standards and ensure we maintain the ability to attract and retain quality staff to continue to deliver these outcomes, University management has to make sure pay and conditions for its academic and general staff are competitive with the rest of the sector’.
‘The union congratulates our fellow staff for their efforts in achieving this rating. We also give a commitment to our members that given their achievement we will not let University management short change staff and the Illawarra community when it comes to maintaining the excellence of the institution’ she said.
The announcement of the University’s award comes at the end of a week where staff vented their frustration in a series of stop work meetings set to coincide with Graduation ceremonies being held on the campus. Staff held peaceful assemblies outside the graduations and distributed information detailing the pay dispute to parents, graduands and members of the community.
Contact: Kim Draisma – President, NTEU University
of Wollongong Branch
(02) 4221 3896 or 0438 260 553