Extent of crippling cuts revealed for University of Newcastle campuses
Monday, 30 May 2005
Following the conciliation process and the direction of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission for the University to release its Discussion Paper, staff at the University of Newcastle today discovered the alarming extent of reductions proposed for both Callaghan and Central Coast Campuses.
"This plan will see the elimination of a number of schools and courses, at a time when there are clear indications that more funded student positions will become available to the University" said NTEU Newcastle Branch Vice-President, Bert Groen. "Both administrative and academic staff numbers will be significantly reduced at Ourimbah and at the main Callaghan Campus in Newcastle."
“For the Central Coast Campus, in particular, these reductions will destroy the strategic advantage that University of Newcastle has regarding targetting even more students from the growth opportunities in the years ahead, which will inevitably flow from the rapidly increasing population of our region. University authorities have recognised these growth prospects but offer few concrete provisions for addressing them” said Mr Groen.
The overwhelming number of staff that attended both campus meetings is testimony to the seriousness of the impact that these job losses will have to the Hunter Region. "Whilst the University wants to shed 167.5 academic and 272 general staff positions in less than one year, the flow on effect to the local economy will be enormous" said Chris Game, State Secretary of the NTEU. "Add to this the lack of planning by the University for the job losses that will be associated with the introduction of Voluntary Student Unionism and the total of job losses is more likely to reach 2000 in the Hunter alone."
Given the volume of information provided today to all staff regarding the University's planning process, then the actions of the NTEU in seeking a longer consultation period was clearly essential for all staff to be fully briefed, consulted and treated fairly. "The comments by Senior Management that staff may well retain their position but be demoted is a clear example of how employers will use the new Industrial Relations legislation announced last week by the Howard Government” said Ms Game. “'We want you to work just as hard but will pay you less, and if you want the job sign this AWA’" she remarked.
“From the discussion paper released today it is clear that valued staff in continuing positions will lose their jobs in favour of staffing the University of Newcastle with casuals” Mr Groen said.
“For both general and academic staff the people least able to afford to be unemployed are the major targets of the job losses” he said.
For further information or comment, contact:
Ms Chris Game, Secretary, NTEU NSW, Tel: (02) 9212 5433; 0408 007 612
Mr Bert Groen, Vice President , NTEU University of Newcastle Branch, Ph: 0412 738 935