Universities could again be at the frontline of Liberals’ industrial relations agenda

Australia’s universities should never again be used as a testing ground for a radical Liberal workplace agenda.

Unions are determined to prevent a repeat of the abuse of Commonwealth funding by the Coalition to pursue individual contracts in the tertiary education sector.

ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence said unions were concerned that a Coalition Government could seek to blackmail universities into using individual contracts with the threat of with-holding funding. Mr Lawrence said the last time the Coalition was in power, it used Commonwealth funding to drive an extremist industrial relations agenda in the tertiary sector.

Mr Lawrence will today address a stopwork meeting by University of Queensland academic and general staff who are seeking a new collective agreement.

Staff are today beginning a series of rolling stoppages in pursuit of an improved pay offer from the university, which had a surplus of $128 million in 2009. Average pay for senior lecturers and for general staff at the University of Queensland are the second lowest of 17 tertiary institutions, despite the university’s status as one of Australia’s Group of Eight.

“Staff are using the Fair Work Act to attempt to claw back pay they lost under the Coalition Government,” Mr Lawrence said.

“After refusing to meet with staff and their union for many months, the university began negotiations last year shortly before the Fair Work Act began operation. The Act encourages collective bargaining which is the best way to secure good pay and conditions for workers.

“This is in contrast with the last Coalition Government’s Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements, which made increased funding for universities conditional on institutions rolling out Australian Workplace Agreements to their staff.

“Tony Abbott wants to reintroduce individual contracts in Australian workplaces. He has also failed to rule out again using Government funding to implement his radical IR agenda.”

Last decade, $458 million of Commonwealth funding to universities was subject to the HEWRRs. The Coalition also used its funding powers to drive its IR agenda in other industries, including tender processes for government-funded construction projects.

Having spent a bit of time at Uni and having a son who is still studying at uni I must admit some uni lecturers are amongst the laziest people I have ever had the misfortune to meet.
I would never want to submit anyone to Abbotts looming draconian workplace laws but something has to be done so students get value for the money they pay for uni courses.

adelcrow wrote on Aug 17^th, 2010 at 4:10pm:



Why are you crying work-choices victim mouth, when Tony Abbott has already pledged he would not reintroduce this reform?

Does it feel good to wallow, or do you truly think this Jurassic policy will return?

Furthermore, Labor have their own draconian impositions they plan to assault university students with as soon as they get re-elected.

Such as compulsory student union fees which are currently voluntary thanks to an Abbott Government who opposed this last time they tried to pass it.


When we talk about experimenting on universities with draconian workplace reforms, do we bare a thought for students being forced to pay compulsory union fees?

If this isn't draconian, then I don't know what is.i

Quote:




Would you prefer an empty guarantee a la labor?

I agree it's disgusting how a gillard government plans to further burden students with compulsory student union fees in a democratic country which has a shameful youth (18 to 25) unemployment rate of 18% that's soared under a Labor government in recent years.

Disgraceful.

adelcrow wrote on Aug 17^th, 2010 at 5:38pm:


But the chips and coke are theri CHOICE. and frankly a great deal more value than union fees.

mellie wrote on Aug 17^th, 2010 at 5:01pm:


Go have a look at economic policy on the Liberal web site and see that they are still talking in support of individual contracts etc. that is still current today. You can believe them if you like



mellie wrote on Aug 17^th, 2010 at 5:01pm:



When the Howard government took office a HECKS debt meant a few thousand dollars, When the Liberals were finished with the education system there were about 20 degrees costing over $100,000

Do you really think students would be outraged by a few hundred dollars towards facilities and services but have no problem at all with the huge debts left thanks to the Howard government.

John S wrote on Aug 18^th, 2010 at 9:50am:


You can usually tell by the state of the finances.

We're in debt now and we handed out cash to lower class bogans, there's your answer to the colour of the Government.