NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN PLANNED AGAINST GOVERNMENT’S INDUSTRIAL PLAN FOR UNIVERSITIES
May 3, 2005
Staff working in all universities across Australia will be involved in a nationwide campaign over the coming months to oppose the Federal Government’s plan to cut universities’ budget by $280 million unless their managements sign up to harsh workplace relation conditions, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) said on Tuesday.
“The Union will be encouraging university staff and the community to take part in a nationwide campaign in the lead-up to the Coalition assuming Senate control on July 1, aimed at opposing the Government’s harsh industrial plans for higher education,” said Grahame McCulloch, NTEU General Secretary.
“Although the Federal Government provides only 40% of university revenue, the Education Minister Dr Brendan Nelson wants 100% control of university workplace relations.”
The Union believes that the changes, introduced by Minister Nelson and the Workplace Relations Minister, Kevin Andrews, late last week are nothing more than an ideological vendetta on the part of the Federal Government and will do nothing to improve the quality of education university staff are able to deliver to students.”
“Indeed, the NTEU believes that the changes, which include getting staff on highly unpopular Australian Workplace Agreements that have so far had a minimal take up in the sector and removing limits on casual and contract employment, will undermine university quality.”
“In addition to cutting much needed funding to universities that refuse to sign up to them, the conditions are a highly prescriptive micro managing of Universities by the Federal Government, which will undermine universities status as independent institutions.”
“The NTEU campaign against these changes was endorsed by the Union’s National Executive, which met on the weekend, and will include a series of industrial, political and community initiatives.”
“This will culminate in a national day of protest and industrial action in the last week of June as part of the trade union campaign against the Federal Government’s wider industrial relations strategy.”
“Parallel with this, the Union will continue to pursue agreements across the sector,” said McCulloch. “This will include seeking to finalise outstanding agreements and seeking confirmation from employers, who have already reached agreements with the Union, that such agreements will stand without further conditions.”
Information and Comment:
Grahame McCulloch, NTEU General Secretary: (03) 9254 1910
Ted Murphy, NTEU Assistant National Secretary: (03) 9254 1910
Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator: (03) 9254 1910