UNIVERSITY OF BALLARAT STAFF REJECT MANAGEMENT’S AGREEMENT,AND CALL ON MANAGEMENT TO RETURN TO
October 26, 2005
University of Ballarat staff have rejected the enterprise agreement proposed by management by 451 votes to 335 votes. Staff are now calling for University management to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible, NTEU Victorian Division Secretary Matthew McGowan said today.
“Timing is crucial. Negotiations need to recommence this week if we are to finalise a more acceptable agreement that meets the government’s deadline of 30 November,” Mr McGowan said.
“If we don’t meet this deadline, the University is likely to miss out on $1.4 million additional funding for 2006.”
“The responsibility for this clearly rests with University management.”
Mr McGowan said that the NTEU has successfully finalised up to 14 new agreements with other universities in the last two weeks, all of which are expected to meet the government’s requirements.
“There is no reason for the University of Ballarat to be the only university that does not finalise an acceptable agreement and qualify for its funding increase.”
“The Vice Chancellor should now acknowledge and accept the views of staff, and move forward quickly to put this divisive process behind us.”
NTEU General Secretary Grahame McCulloch congratulated staff at the University on resisting a campaign of disinformation, and called on the University to return immediately to the negotiating table.
“Under the Federal Government’s Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements (HEWRRs), the University faces a significant loss in Federal Government funding if it fails to reach a new Agreement by 30 November this year. A dozen other universities have been able to reach Agreements with the NTEU in order to secure their funding for 2006 and 2007.”
“Only Ballarat Vice-Chancellor Kerry Cox has embarked on a course of slashing conditions of employment and trying to take the University to the bottom of the pile on salaries.”
For further information and comment:
Mr Matthew McGowan, NTEU Victorian Division Secretary: (03) 9254 1930
Dr Jeremy Smith, NTEU University of Ballarat Branch President: (03) 5327 9163
Grahame McCulloch, NTEU General Secretary: (03) 9254 1910