UNSW Staff demonstrate their Work Choices
20 February, 2006
Staff at the University of NSW today launched on campus the start of their 2006 enterprise bargaining campaign ‘Our Rights at Work at UNSW – Worth Fighting For’. Staff gathered on the Library Lawns whilst giant banners were unfurled from campus buildings.
Staff begin negotiations for their new agreement in an uncertain environment, because the UNSW enterprise agreements expire when the WorkChoices legislation is purported to be enacted. The uncertainty is compounded as the Higher Education Workplace Reform Requirements (HEWRRs) funding has not yet been announced by the Federal Education Minister. HEWRRs funding is a pool of $260 million contingent on universities implementing regressive industrial relations reforms.
The Acting Branch President, Susan Price, said ‘The staff’s claims are incredibly reasonable; no substantial changes to the current agreement, a competitive payrise, and the industry standard of 36 weeks paid maternity leave.’
‘Staff understand that the University needs to implement the HEWRRs in order to receive increases in the Commonwealth Grant Scheme (CGS) funding. We want to work with the University to ensure that the University receives this funding, but not at the cost of the pay and conditions for University staff.’
Meanwhile, staff at UNSW’s main competitor and traditional rival, the University of Sydney are today voting on an Enterprise Agreement which includes a 30% pay increase over five years, and protection of conditions of employment, including 36 weeks of paid Maternity Leave.
For further information or comment, contact:
Susan Price, NTEU UNSW Acting Branch President - 0400 320 602
Anne Junor, NTEU Academic Vice President – 9385 2479
Photos from today’s event will be able to be viewed by Tuesday morning at http://www.nteu.org.au/bd/unsw. High resolution versions will be available for media use on request.