Government bullying sends universities into industrial turmoil
Friday, 29 April 2005
Australian universities have been plunged into uncertainty as the Howard Government today announced its radical and draconian plans for unprecedented intervention in Universities and their dealings with staff.
Reforms announced today include requiring universities to offer individual contracts to every university staff member by 31 August 2006 in order for cash strapped institutions to beg for increased funds. This will force some universities to negotiate up to 5,000 individual contracts to cover their staff.
“This agenda comes as no surprise to the NTEU” said Ms Chris Game, NSW State Secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union, representing over 7000 academic and general University staff in NSW and 27,000 nationally. “Regrettably, University workers and their families have now moved to the top of the Howard government’s hit list” said Ms Game.
“This is a direct attack on the independence of universities” said Dr Stuart Rosewarne, President of the NTEU (NSW). “The Government is now telling universities what to do in terms of employment of staff. They are interfering with management processes, and the normal running of universities. No other Australian employer will have its funding cut if it doesn’t kow-tow to Howard and Nelson’s bullying. Extortion is not a choice”.
“University staff just want to get on with the job of delivering quality education and research. Now the government with its ideological obsessions is going to force universities staff away from this and towards defending their own working pay and conditions from being slashed. Universities are independent institutions and should be free from ideological straight jackets” continued Dr Rosewarne.
“This draconian legislation will also be applied retrospectively. The Government isn’t just moving the goal posts – it’s cutting them down” he said.
“Not only will the NTEU campaign against the government, we also believe that universities should reject the Government pronouncements. Universities should not trade academic independence and integrity in order to access extra money offered by the Government as a lure to force industrial reform” Chris Game said.
“Staff at universities are at one with the view that their workplace rights are not for sale” she concluded.
NTEU members will be meeting next week at all NSW universities to consider their response.
For further information or comment, contact:
Ms Chris Game,
Secretary, NTEU NSW, Tel: (02) 9212 5433; 0408 007 612
Dr Stuart Rosewarne, President, NTEU NSW, Tel: (02) 9351 2492;
0417 040 025