One of the Hunter’s biggest employers is facing a revolt, as staff at the University of Newcastle fight for better pay and conditions.
Their union is pushing for a 20 per cent rise over four years and says if it can’t reach a deal with management soon, it’ll consider strike action.
The Newcastle University says its offer to staff is consistent with those made at other universities across Australia.
It says negotiations are proceeding well and that it will continue to work with unions to reach an agreement.
text will be replaced
Newcastle University’s statement referring to the progress of negotiations comes from a fantasy world that only the VC and others on bonuses inhabit. 95% of Australia’s Universities have concluded these negotiation amicably. Here at Newcastle we are still negotiating, and have been for 18 months. Newcastle Uni used to be regarded as one of the top 10 tertiary institutions in Australia, sadly, the casualization of academics and general erosion of conditions for staff will shortly place us well outside the top 10 in the country. The people of Newcastle need to be aware of the flow on business that the University provides, and with this in mind, need to be protective of the quality of education provided at Newcastle University. Unfortunately, you cannot have quality tertiary education without quality teaching and research which must be properly recognized through the outcomes of these negotiations.