NTEU media release: Governments must listen to Insecure Work Inquiry on need for increased investment in skills and education

Posted 16 May 2012 by Andrew Nette (NTEU National Office)

The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) welcomes the report of the Independent Inquiry into Insecure Work, Lives on Hold, released at Australian Council of Trade Unions Congress in Sydney today.

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NTEU media release ‘Survival stall’ asks Swinburne University community to donate goods to help tide over late paid casual academics

Posted 14 May 2012 by Andrew Nette (NTEU National Office)

National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) members at Swinburne University have today launched a ‘survival stall’ for casual academics working at the institution and are asking staff to ...

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Adelaide Branch Newsletter May 2012

Posted 14 May 2012 by Katherine Gale (University of Adelaide)

The May 2012 edition of Adelaide United has been sent to all members but is also available for download here.

 

And this is the Insert for the newsletter.

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Higher education workers support teachers in their fight against casualisation

Posted 11 May 2012 by Genevieve Kelly (NSW Division)

It has been reported this week that nearly 20,000 new primary and secondary teachers will need to be employed over the next five years to replace staff reaching retirement.

This comes as proposed NSW government reforms will hand control of staffing to local principals, allowing them to replace long-serving, permanent teachers with casual and short-term arrangements.

NSW Teachers Federation President, Maurie Mulheron, is concerned recent graduates will be exploited to achieve a cheaper workforce. He said:

“What we will have is a totally deregulated staffing structure, with an increasing number of temporary positions, no incremental pay scale and no guaranteed executive structure."

''The department and the minister see this as a golden time. They can exploit the fact there are a lot of young people coming in and a cheaper workforce. But they can also change the culture by putting them on short-term or casual arrangements. We're extremely worried about the future of the profession.''

The attacks facing NSW teachers are similar to those faced by higher education staff. Our sector has already seen a dramatic increase in precarious employment, with as many as 77,000 staff in Australian universities employed as casuals. Large-scale casualisation has begun to undermine the sustainability of the academic profession in Australia.

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Teaching Focused Role Meetings

Posted 8 May 2012 by Katie O'Brien (University of Western Sydney)

Dear Members and Colleagues,

 
Further to our email dated 1st May we would like to remind you of our schedules meetings this week to discuss the implementation of Teaching Focused Roles.


The ...

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CASPA the Unfriendly Ghost of Pay Systems Past

Posted 1 May 2012 by Katherine Gale (University of Adelaide)

What is CASPA?

As some of you will know, Casual Academics are paid a sum each fortnight which is an average of their pay for the whole semester. This practice is no longer in line with workplace ...

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NTEU media release: Casual academics unite to lodge claim on Swinburne University for late payment of wages

Posted 1 May 2012 by Andrew Nette (NTEU National Office)

Over 50 casual academics have joined a National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) claim on Victoria’s Swinburne University for 3 hours extra pay to cover the time spent following up wages which ...

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Your Rights At Night - Howe Inquiry, Young Workers Legal Service and BHP Closure

Posted 27 April 2012 by Katherine Gale (SA Division)

On YR@N last night:

• Outcomes from inquiry into insecure work

• Young Workers Legal Service visit

• BHP Mine closure and impact on Qld workers

All that and lots of great ...

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NTEU Casual Academic Advice at UNE

Posted 26 April 2012 by Helen McLennan (University of New England)

 

The UNE Branch has been receiving a growing number of requests for assistance regarding clarifying casuals rights and conditions. It has become apparent that a more succinct and accessible ...

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Casuals in Canadian universities

Posted 26 April 2012 by Jen T. Kwok (NTEU National Office)

For your interest, here is an excellent article in the April 2012 CAUT Bulletin by former CAUT President  Professor Penni Stewart (2008-11) about casualisation of the academic work in Canadian ...

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