UNIVERSITY OF BALLARAT STAFF VOTE FOR FURTHER BANS
8 June 2005
Union members at the University of Ballarat have imposed further industrial bans at a meeting today, in response to a lack of progress in negotiations over a new Enterprise Agreement.
The industrial action includes a ban on the processing of mail; a ban on media and technology services to the Vice-Chancellery; and a ban on processing student results.
“The NTEU will seek the involvement of the Ballarat Student Union in developing an effective exemptions process that will not unreasonably disadvantage any student who has a legitimate need for their results,” NTEU Victorian Division Secretary Matthew McGowan said.
“The University has to keep pace with the rest of the sector if it wants to continue to attract and retain high quality staff. All we want is an outcome that will keep the University competitive.”
“Our members are angry that after months of delay, management’s latest pay offer is worse than the offer that was rejected last year. Moreover, the latest offer delivers different pay outcomes for academic and general staff, which in our view is unjustifiable.”
“This latest offer means that by June 2006, the University would have ‘saved’ nearly $2 million of the amount that was offered and rejected in 2004.”
“We have been driven to this position of applying more bans because it seems that the University is hellbent on refusing to negotiate properly on salaries and employment conditions.”
“We’ve looked at the University’s finances – it can clearly afford to pay salary increases that are comparable with the rest of the sector.”
Mr McGowan said that this dispute is about more than just salaries and employment conditions for Ballarat staff.
“It’s about what sort of university the Ballarat community should have.”
For further information and comment:
Matthew McGowan NTEU Vic Division Secretary 0417 054 110
Michael Evans NTEU Communications Officer 0418 241 664