PROFESSORS SIGN UP TO PROTECT UNIVERSITY INDEPENDENCE AND OPPOSE WORKPLACE CHANGES
November 7, 2005
Over 200 university professors from across Australian have signed a statement, released today, opposing the Federal Government’s workplace relations changes for higher education as a threat to university independence, that will undermine academic freedom and do nothing to help improve the quality of teaching and research.
“That this statement is supported by over 200 senior members of the academic community, shows the depth of concern within the higher education sector about the potential for these workplace changes to undermine university independence and academic freedom,” said Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President.
“Just as the Government’s broader industrial agenda does not deal with the real challenges facing the economy, the workplace changes aimed specially at universities will do nothing to help staff undertake their core jobs of providing high quality teaching and research, indeed, these changes will make this job harder.”
The statement is the basis of a half-page advertisement appearing in today’s Australian newspaper
Legislation scheduled to be debated in the Senate this week, will see universities denied nearly $300 million in 2006 and 2007 unless they adopt the hardline workplace relations conditions, known as the Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements.
Part of the Government’s broader Workchoices package, these conditions include requiring Australian Workplace Agreements to be offered to all university staff, the removal of limits on fixed term and casual employment, and the elimination of any direct union role in collective bargaining, disputes and grievances.
“The quality and integrity of teaching and research depends not only on the ability of universities to appoint staff and set conditions without external interference, but on staff having the right to speak out and offer comment ‘without fear or favour’.”
“Forcing universities to employ staff on secret individual contracts undermines this right, which is essential if universities are to meet the needs of our community for expert advice and independent research.”
“An arms length relationship from government is essential to protecting academic freedom and is part of the culture and reputation of the world’s best universities. By attempting to micro-manage workplace relations at each university, the Federal Government is not only increasing bureaucracy and red tape, but threatening the reputation of our universities.”
“Declining Government funding and restrictions on employment practices in universities further undermine our competitive position in the tight international academic labour market.”
“Universities face a new dynamic under the current Government,” said Dr Allport. ”The further Federal Government funding, the greater the degree of interference they attempt to have in university operations.”
“Although the Federal Government currently provides only 40 per cent of university funding, it wants a hundred per cent control of university staffing, management and employment practices.”
“NTEU endorses the professors’ call that the Government should withdraw its workplace relations proposals for universities and, if it do not, that the Senate should reject them.”
The full text of the sign on letter and a short briefing paper for the media on the HEWRRs is available at www.nteu.org.au/campaigns/higheredatrisk
Information and Comment:
Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President: (03) 9254 1910
Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator: (03) 9254 1910