UNIVERSITY OF BALLARAT MISSES OUT ON $1.4 MILLION
MEDIA RELEASE
1 March 2006
The University of Ballarat has given up $1.4 million for an ideological obsession, by failing to have a new collective agreement that complies with the government’s requirements in place by 30 November last year.
"The University has not even applied for the funding,” NTEU Victorian Division Secretary Matthew McGowan said today.
“When the Union was prepared to negotiate an agreement that the University could obviously afford, why forego $1.4 million that you don’t have to lose?”
Ballarat is the only Victorian university that will not receive the additional 5% commonwealth funding for 2006.
“The announcement that all other Victorian universities that needed to meet the government’s deadline will all receive their 2006 funding increase vindicates the position that the NTEU took, in seeking to negotiate HEWRR-compliant agreements at all Victorian universities.”
“It was the NTEU’s intervention and active pursuit of collective agreements that has ensured all 7 Victorian institutions (Deakin, Monash, La Trobe, and Victoria Universities, RMIT, ACU and the VCA) have fulfilled the government’s requirements.”
“There was ample opportunity for the University of Ballarat to negotiate an acceptable collective agreement that didn’t seek to remove or reduce important employment conditions, and have it certified in time to meet the deadline.”
“Outgoing Vice-Chancellor Kerry Cox claimed that you could not reach agreement with the NTEU and meet the government’s requirements. The outcomes at the other Victorian institutions, where union representatives have successfully negotiated HEWRR-compliant agreements, clearly shows how blinkered and wrong he is.”
“Kerry Cox leaves the University next week in the knowledge that his ideological obsession to strip staff of important protections and to refuse to recognise staff’s legitimate representatives has unnecessarily cost the University $1.4 million.”
‘We call on the University Council to use the opportunity of Cox’s departure to embark on a new direction – return to negotiations, settle a new agreement that protects staff conditions and provides salary increases and back pay for all staff, and guarantees 2007 funding increases.”
“It’s time to bring to an end this bitter and divisive period, and allow the University and staff to return to their core business – providing a world-class education for the Ballarat and regional communities.”
For further information and comment:
Matthew McGowan, Vic Div Secretary 0417 054 110
Dr Jeremy Smith, Uni of Ballarat Branch President 0429 334 938