KERRY COX: THE LAST DESPERATE ACT OF A DESPERATE MAN
MEDIA RELEASE
3 March 2006
Outgoing University of Ballarat (UB) Vice-Chancellor Kerry Cox has made one last desperate attempt to impose his ideological will on the University and its staff, seeking to influence the outcome of the long-running dispute over enterprise bargaining even after he leaves the University next Monday.
Cox has today distributed an email to all UB staff which appears to indicate that the University had already written off the 2007 HEWRRs funding increases of about $2 million, as well as having missed out on the 2006 funding increases, worth $1.4 million. The back pay inducement to sign an AWA by 31 March has also been tightened, with staff being warned that any AWA signed after 31 March is likely to include no back pay at all, rather than to 1 January 2006.
NTEU Victorian Division Secretary Matthew McGowan said today that “Nothing has worked so far for Kerry, so his departing gesture is to seek to lock the University Council into his divisive agenda.”
“He tried to impose two sub-standard agreements on staff, but they were rejected in ballots in October and November. He then offers the same sub-standard agreement as an AWA, with the bribe of up to 18 months back pay only being available if you sign an AWA by 31 March. But staff don’t appear to be knocking down the door in the rush to sign away their employment conditions.”
“Kerry Cox leaves next week in the knowledge that his ideological obsession has already cost the University $1.4 million in additional commonwealth funding.”
“The University Council also has to consider the pending damages claim from the class action taken by staff over the University distributing misleading information to induce staff to sign an AWA.”
“The Council needs to realise that the 2007 HEWRRs funding is not lost – all it needs to do is settle a new collective agreement that meets the government’s requirements by August this year.”
“Every other university in Victoria and nationally has got their funding increases. They have settled new agreements that protect employment conditions as well as meet the government’s requirements. What is so different at Ballarat?”
“Kerry Cox’s departure will provide a breath of fresh air to the University community, and enable it to heal the divisive and unnecessary rifts that have developed over the last two years.”
“We call on the Council and new Vice-Chancellor to put all this nonsense behind us, return to serious negotiations, settle a new collective agreement that delivers pay rises and back pay to all staff and protects their employment conditions, and meets the government’s requirements for the 2007 funding increase.”
“Kerry Cox will soon become just a bad memory for us all.”
For further information and comment:
Matthew McGowan, Vic Div Secretary 0417 054 110
Dr Jeremy Smith, Uni of Ballarat Branch President 0429 334 938