NTEU condemns new attack on universities and their staff
April 29, 2005
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) today condemned the Government’s latest attack on University autonomy, the rights of university staff and attempt to force universities to offer Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) even though most of them do not want to.
Responding to Minister Andrews’ announcement today, the union said that its National Executive would be considering the Government’s package at a meeting in Melbourne tomorrow. The package represents a highly prescriptive micro-management of Universities by the federal government and undermines the status of all universities as autonomous institutions.
Making an initial comment on the Government’s announcement, NTEU Acting President Associate Professor Lyn Bloom said, “It is instructive that Minister Andrews had made the announcement rather Education Minister Nelson. This shows that the Government’s proposal has nothing to do with education and everything to do with advancing the Government’s ideological agenda on industrial relations.”
“The Government’s list of requirements is a re-packaged version of its 2003 package, which was defeated in the Senate. As far as the union is aware, the Commonwealth has never before changed the requirements for base operating grants half way through a funding triennium. The Government made no mention of this during the election campaign.”
The Government is seeking to take Australian universities down-market by undermining the conditions of employment currently protected in collective agreements, which have the support of both universities and their staff. These important conditions include academic freedom, limits on casualisation and job security, which underpin the quality of our universities.
“Any university that tries to walk away from conditions of employment already agreed will obviously be in for a tough fight with its staff,” Assoc. Prof. Lyn Bloom said.
Further information and comment:
Associate Professor Lyn Bloom, Acting President, (03) 9254 1910
Ted Murphy, National Assistant Secretary, (03) 9254 1910
Ken McAlpine, Senior Industrial Officer, (03) 9254 1910