NTEU Sydney Branch campaign against divisive and unnecessary AWAs
Wednesday 23 August 2006
The NTEU National Officers fully support the University of Sydney Branch campaign against the divisive and unnecessary AWAs being offered by the University management.
The proposed AWAs do not guarantee key employment rights and entitlements, and many provisions refer only to University policy. Such policy is subject to unilateral variation by the University, and does not have the same legal force as Union Collective Agreement provisions. Important employment conditions not guaranteed by the proposed AWAs include:
- Peer review and appeal rights in cases of alleged professional misconduct/poor performance, including the right to bring evidence, cross-examine witnesses and to be directly represented at all stages of any University initiated investigation.
- Binding consultation and information requirements where restructuring and/or academic reprofiling is taking place.
- Protection against summary dismissal.
- Automatic access to arbitration where a grievance or dispute has not been resolved.
- A 17% employer superannuation contribution.
- Protection of access to superannuation disablement pensions and independent medical assessment in cases of ill-health termination.
On the important question of pay, the AWA offer is for just over ten per cent in a three year term ending no earlier than September 2009. In contrast, the Union Collective Agreement provides just over 10 per cent in a two year term ending in October 2008. A three year replacement Union Collective Agreement will likely commence in early 2009, meaning those on AWAs are likely to lose nearly a year’s pay increase. This is a neat pea and thimble trick by the management.
Remember that once an employee signs an AWA they cannot return to the current or replacement Union Collective Agreements without management consent, even after the AWA has expired. Staff will be padlocked to AWAs once they have signed.
The AWA offer has nothing to do with the quality of teaching, research and student services, and everything to do with accommodating direct pressure from the Commonwealth Government.
Grahame McCulloch
General Secretary