PROGRESS MADE AT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

The NTEU is pleased to advise that progress was achieved in some key areas at yesterday’s Collective Bargaining meeting.

In particular, the University has agreed to the principle of separate payment for marking by casual academic staff and withdrawn its proposal to limit the right of general staff members to seek reclassification.

All parties agreed that it was important to finalise negotiations. As a result, a draft Agreement will form the basis for the next negotiating meeting scheduled for late March.

Members should be aware however that there are still some critical matters to be resolved including restoration of ALL pre-HEWRR staff rights prior to the Agreement being finalised.

As a result of this positive development, a meeting of members will not be convened at this time.

WHAT ABOUT SALARY?

The University indicated that salary would be last item they would be prepared to negotiate.

Unfortunately, despite the recent 3.4% pay increase, Flinders still remains amongst the lowest paying universities in this country.

Our March Branch Newsletter will provide members with detailed information about this issue.

FLINDERS NOW A LOWEST PAYING UNIVERSITY

Despite the recently announced administrative increase which Flinders staff will receive on 26 February 2010, Flinders has become and will remain one the lowest paying Australian Universities.

Flinders now groups itself as a bottom payer with Central Queensland University, University of Southern Queensland and Charles Darwin University.

This is a significant decline from the mid-range salary position that Flinders occupied for many years

Such a decline does not accord with the Vice-Chancellor’s statements to staff in his recent Town Hall meeting, that Flinders was in a “reasonably healthy position” and “revenue would be up in 2010.”

Such a decline also does not accord with the 2007 Shanghai Jiao-Tong University Academic Ranking of World Universities where Flinders was ranked in the top:
10 universities in Australia; 64 universities in the Asia- Pacific region; 400 universities in the world.

GENERAL STAFF SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO SEEK A RECLASSIFICATION REVIEW

The University is currently seeking to limit the right of general staff to seek a review of their classification level in a way that would effectively mean that it was no longer available to staff.

The NTEU’s position is that such a fundamental work place right is not to be traded off.

No other University in this round of bargaining has made such a demand of its general staff.

C2R2 – PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE IMPLEMENTING THIS BAN

Thank you to members who have advised us that they are implementing the ban on any extra work associated with the C2R2 process.

The significant extra work that has been generated for both academic and general staff members has not been recognised by the University in collective bargaining negotiations.

We therefore ask members to seriously consider participating in this ban and letting us know if you are doing so.

BAN ON EXAM RESULTS

The NTEU is currently reviewing the ban on transmission to the University of assessment and exam results and we will advise members as soon as possible if there is any change.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS

Please contact us by return email or by phoning ext 12656 if you have any questions or comments about this advice.

EXEMPTION FOR STUDENT RESULTS

EXEMPTIONS COMMITTEE AGREES TO BLANKET EXEMPTION FOR GRADUATING STUDENTS.

The Exemptions Committee has agreed, at the request of the University, to provide a blanket exemption to the ban on transmission of student results for any graduating student.

The Committee which considers and approves requests for exemptions to the ban to ensure there is no undue hardship or endangerment of student welfare has also granted a number of individual exemptions.

If you are a student at Flinders University and wish to apply for an exemption, please send an email with the details of the topic and the reasons why an exemption should be granted to nteu.flinders@internode.on.net

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS FOR FLINDERS UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ONLY. IF YOU ARE NOT A STUDENT AT FLINDERS UNIVERSITY, PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL. CONTACT THE NTEU OFFICE FOR YOUR INSTITUTION. THANK YOU