Campaign: No Job Cuts
Cutting jobs is not the answer - Invest in staff, not stones
Despite recording a substantial surplus, Sydney University management have proposed job cuts of up to 340 staff.
In a video to staff, the VC said savings were needed to fund new buildings and that the university "can no longer carry members of staff who are not pulling their weight".
NTEU know staff at this university work hard and care about their work. We call on management to rescind the planned cuts—to invest in staff, not stones.
The Vice Chancellor has released a formal change proposal, which threatens substantial job cuts. The document:
- Proposes around 340 general and academic staff job cuts despite workloads increasing.
- Argues that the cuts are necessary because of lower than expected annual growth in student numbers.
- Is deficient in its rationale for academic job cuts, which will be based on retrospective research performance and gives no indication of the criteria for general staff redundancies.
- Transfers responsibility for University mismanagement onto individual staff and work units.
- Presents an untenable timeframe for consultation – two weeks for staff to respond (by 17 February), after which the University Management has given itself 24 hours to ‘consider’ responses.
I have been told I am getting fired or transferred to a teaching-focussed position because of the proposed changes. Can University Management do that?
- NO! Until a full and proper resolution of this dispute, no changes can occur. If University Management does so, they are breaking the enterprise agreement. If you know of any attempts to introduce these changes, contact the NTEU.
I am not sure whether my job is at risk? What can I do?
- You have the right to request whether your position is being considered for redundancy because of the proposed changes.
- The NTEU can help if you think your job is under threat. But remember, no changes can occur until a full and proper resolution of this dispute.
Can I refuse to attend a meeting with Management about changes to my job or workload because of the changes?
- If you are asked to attend a meeting about changes in your employment, including your workload, because of the proposed changes, contact the NTEU.
What has the NTEU done?
- The NTEU has no intention of allowing this change proposal to proceed as it stands and we have lodged a formal dispute with the University. This is a formal industrial procedure requiring the University to meet with the NTEU before ANY proposed changes can occur.
- If the University fails to resolve the matter to our satisfaction, the NTEU will refer the matter for arbitration by Fair Work Australia.
- We are continuing to campaign publicly with planned rallies, meetings and media releases and we are conducting a media campaign.
What can you do?
- Come to meetings to support the actions against these changes.
- Volunteer to help out with leafleting, distributing campaign material, and other actions.
- Nonmembers: join your Union. We can only represent you if you are a member.
Where do I get more info?
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) represents academic and general staff at the University of Sydney, and across Australia.
Contact us:
Email: nteu@nteu.usyd.edu.au
Phone: 9351 2827
Website: www.nteu.org.au/sydney
If you are on Facebook you can also follow updates and information on the pages of our supporters. Either friend Save Usyd Jobs or like the page Save Usyd Jobs.
Save Usyd Jobs is also on twitter: @saveusydjobs #saveusydjobs and #nojobcuts
Branch Contacts
Branch Office
Room 214 Transient Bdg Camperdown/DarlingtonCampus
University of Sydney
Phone: 02 9351 2827
Fax: 02 9351 7573
nteu@nteu.usyd.edu.au
http://www.nteu.org.au/sydney
Michael Thomson
Branch President
mthomson@mail.usyd.edu.au
Katherine Barnsley
Branch Organiser
kbarnsley@nteu.org.au
