Media Release

21 July 2009

University staff call for end to compulsory redundancies
 

University staff who are members of unions have given their bargaining claims to the employers of the country’s eight universities ahead of employment negotiations that are due to begin on Thursday and Friday this week.

Among the limited number of claims is one that requires universities not to make anyone compulsorily redundant over the term of the next employment agreement. TEU deputy secretary and lead advocate Nanette Cormack says union members are working to help students, families and communities face the global recession:

“With a baby boom passing through universities and many people choosing to improve their qualifications in the face of the recession, enrolments are up. Everyone is saying we need university education and research more than ever. Compulsory redundancy should not be an issue but it’s one of the things our members are most concerned about.” 

“We’re not saying don’t make changes – offer voluntary redundancy, redeployment or new opportunities, but when universities are growing and everywhere else is struggling, lead by example - don’t just sack people who are working hard for us all in the middle of a recession,” said Ms Cormack.

Union members are seeking national multi-employer agreements and shared working conditions to cover all eight universities. They will also be seeking a gender equity audit of all universities to ensure they are not discriminating against women, limits to the amount of workload placed upon university staff and a commitment to write basic legal working conditions into their collective agreement so those rights can’t be taken away without negotiation.

Ends

© Scoop Media