NTEU Media Release: National survey to shed light on casual academic work in universities
Casual academic staff at universities will have the opportunity to report on their working conditions in a nationwide survey launched by the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) today.
“The survey is targeted at all staff employed casually at any time in 2011 or embarking on sessional or casual employment in 2012,” said NTEU President, Jeannie Rea.
“It is open to non-NTEU members working as casuals in teaching or research and we would urge as many as possible to take the time to fill it in.”
“The Secure Jobs campaign conducted by trade unions has focused public attention on the problems associated with casual employment across the economy.”
“Higher education is one of the sectors of the economy most impacted. As many as 77,000 out of a total university workforce of approximately 180,000 are casuals.”
“More than half of all undergraduate teaching in Australian universities is carried out by casual academic staff.”
“We believe this could increase even further as institutions adjust to the federal government’s policy of uncapping of university places.”
“The fact universities rely on a shadow workforce of casual with poor conditions and zero job security would come as a major shock to many in the community.”
“The NTEU is concerned about harmful financial and physical impacts of casual employment on the workers concerned.”
“I’ve heard many stories from talented young academics that have left the sector due to the financial and emotional stress involved. It’s a major waste of talent our economy cannot afford.”
“In addition to building a more accurate picture of the problems facing casual university staff, our on-line survey is aimed at identifying institutions failing to implement changes to create more secure employment agreed on in the last round of enterprise bargaining.”
“University staff put a lot of effort into securing improved conditions, including more ongoing positions, for casuals in the last bargaining round and we’d like to see the benefits realised.”
“While we understand that federal underfunding is a key driver of high rates of casual university employment, universities have had years to reconfigure their labour and workforce practices,” said Ms Rea. “The reality is universities have been unaccountable in this area for too long.”
The casual’s survey can be access at www.unicasual.org.au/survey2012
For further information and comment: Jeannie Rea, NTEU President: 0434 609 531
To organise an interview with a casual university worker, contact: Andrew Nette, NTEU National Media Officer: 0431 217 131
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Branch Contacts
Branch Office
Room 1043 Bdg 19 Wollongong Campus
University of Wollongong
Phone: 02 4221 3701
Fax: 02 4221 4331
uow@nteu.org.au
http://www.nteu.org.au/uow
Penelope McFarlane
Branch President
penney@uow.edu.au
Anne Maguire
Branch Organiser
amaguire@nteu.org.au
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