Commission buys time for Newcastle staff on eve of protest at University Council
Staff of the University of Newcastle will hold a protest rally outside the University Council meeting at 8.30am tomorrow (Friday) morning.
"The protest is against the University’s proposal to cut 450 jobs (ie. 20% of all staff). This is a ‘knee jerk’ reaction to a financial shortfall that is both unjustified and being pursued by the Vice Chancellor without Council approval” said Mr Bert Groen, Vice President of the University of Newcastle Branch of the NTEU.
“The Vice Chancellor is attempting to orchestrate an environment of financial panic in order to push through draconian cuts that will set the university back for years” Mr Groen went on to say. “The Vice Chancellor is pursuing an aim that will only result in maximum staff pain.”
Having scrutinized the University’s financial position, the NTEU believes that a more reasoned approach could still achieve the University’s aim without such disruption to staff, students and the Hunter region. Ms Chris Game, State Secretary, said that “whilst we understand the need to make some financial savings, the 450 job losses are excessive and could cripple the University’s capacity for teaching and research into the future.”
“NTEU is proposing that the financial issues be addressed through: natural staff attrition; voluntary separations; and a strategic plan of staff separations over a period of 2-3 years instead of being completed in a panic” said Ms Game.
NTEU initiated a dispute in the Industrial Relations Commission about the lack of genuine consultation with all staff. The outcome of today’s conciliation in the Commission is that the University will now give staff 6 weeks to consider its Change Discussion Paper. This paper will be considered by the University Council at its meeting tomorrow and will be released to staff on Monday 30th May.
The University Management originally proposed only a 2 week consultation period to consider the biggest restructure and job cuts in the University’s history. NTEU anticipates that the Council will intervene to ensure that the measures taken to address the financial situation are a measured response and not a knee jerk reaction in panic.
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Rally details: The rally will begin at 8.30am at the Industry Development Centre Carpark - (the Industry Development Centre is located on University Drive near the Kintaiba Childcare Centre, Callaghan campus, University of Newcastle) |
For further information and comment:
Mr Bert Groen, Vice President , NTEU University of Newcastle Branch, Ph: 0412 738 935