RMIT WANTS TO SACK 40 DISABILITY SUPPORT STAFF
MEDIA RELEASE
11 May 2007
RMIT University is proposing to outsource all notetaking and Auslan interpreting functions from its Disability Liaison Unit, resulting in over 40 ongoing and casual employees losing their jobs.
“These disability support workers provide a first-class service to students with disabilities,” NTEU RMIT Branch President Jeanette Pierce said today.
“They know and understand the students’ needs and being in-house, provide continuity of service. They also provide an understanding of the students’ preferred interpreting or notetaking style, an intimate knowledge of the University and of the unique language and terminology used within the many specialist courses taught at RMIT.”
These staff currently provide, on average, 440 Auslan interpreting hours per week and 400 notetaking hours per week.
RMIT claims that the proposal to outsource the service will save around $98,000 per year, but will cost the University over $400,000 in redundancy payments.
RMIT has acknowledged that outsourcing will allow the University to avoid potential casual conversion claims and the minimum three-hourly engagement period of casual employees, being entitlements under the current Enterprise Agreement.
Ms Pierce said “RMIT has a well-deserved reputation for providing excellent support to students with disabilities and as a result, it has a large number of students requiring such services enrolled at the University. This reputation will be in jeopardy if the proposal proceeds.”
Ms Pierce said that there had been little genuine consultation about the proposal with staff or with students who rely on the service, and that RMIT’s motivation appears to be driven purely by dollars, rather than concerns about the quality or continuity of the service, or justice and equity for the existing staff who will lose their jobs.
Staff and students will demonstrate their opposition to the proposed outsourcing on Monday 14 May at 12:30pm outside Building 1 of RMIT, calling on the Vice-Chancellor to not proceed with the proposal.
For further information and comment:
Jeanette Pierce, NTEU RMIT Branch President 0438 706 508