NTEU INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY VINDICATED BY RELEASE OF UNI WORKPLACE REFORM FUNDING
March 3, 2006
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) welcomes the release of $147 million to universities as part of the Federal Government’s higher education workplace reform funding, and believes this is a strong vindication of the industrial strategy pursued by the Union over the last eleven months.
“NTEU welcomes the Federal Education Minister’s announcement this week of the release of the money as providing a measure of financial stability to much of the higher education sector,” said Grahame McCulloch, NTEU General Secretary.
“Much of this outcome is a result of the initiative of NTEU which, in the face of the Federal Government’s industrial interference in the sector, moved quickly to negotiate agreements that provide competitive wages and conditions to staff while at the same time ensuring that those institutions concerned qualified for funding under the Federal Government’s workplace program.”
“The entire university sector is now covered by trade union collective agreements, roughly fifty per cent of which are compliant with the Federal Government’s workplace reform program for universities, known as the Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements.”
“The remaining institutions now have an absolutely clear set of model agreements upon which to work from in order to qualify for the next round of funding under this program by August 2007.”
“The funding announcement is a rebuff for the sector’s employer body, the Australian Higher Education Industry Association, which continually sought to undermine positive negotiations and provided what can only be described as reckless and incorrect advice to its members.”
The main features of enterprise agreements negotiated by NTEU and university managements are:
- 5 to 6 per cent pay rise per annum until 2008
- 26 to 36 weeks paid parental leave
- Indigenous employment programs
- Job security and academic freedom protection
The Union has had to make significant concessions, however, including
- Mandatory use of Australian Workplace Agreements (although all agreements provide for genuine choice to staff between an AWA and the union agreement
- No limits on fixed term employment (but all agreements include guarantees of re-employment and/or severance pay of up to 28 weeks)
“I would call on all those institutions that must adapt their agreements to qualify for the next round of funding to cooperate with the Union and negotiate these agreements as quickly as possible,” said McCulloch.
Information and Comment:
Grahame McCulloch, NTEU General Secretary: (03) 9254 1910
Ken Mcalpine, NTEU Senior Industrial Officer: (03) 9254 1910