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ON CAMPUS
Back-and-forth
Griffith academic staff reject university pay offer .
By Emilie Lauer
Academic staff from Griffith University have voted to bypass one-off $ 1000 payments included in the university ’ s most recent wage offer , pushing salary negotiations into the new year .
The vote followed an 80-page offer sent out by Griffith management in late November after negotiations with the union fell through .
More than 60 per cent of academic staff turned down the offer , which included a 12 per cent pay increase over the next three years .
A separate non-union enterprise agreement was also proposed to professional workers , which 66 per cent of staff voted in favour for .
NTEU Queensland Division Secretary Michael McNally said while he ’ s
“ disappointed ” professional staff took up the agreement , he was pleased academics rejected a “ substandard ” proposal .
“ Management tried to sidestep around the union and their staff have told them no , go back and negotiate a good agreement ,” McNally told Campus Review .
“ They shouldn ’ t have even tried to put such a proposal to staff .”
McNally said current rates of inflation has been “ eating away ” at staff salaries .
“ The bonus payment is just a bribe and people saw it for what it is , but when you have a mortgage and bills coming in , you ’ ll take a substandard agreement to get the money in your hand now ,” he said .
Professional staff at Griffith will recieve a five per cent pay increase in March 2023 , followed by another five per cent in 2024 , as well as a $ 500 to $ 1000 one-off bonus payment .
The professional staff agreement will be looked at by Fair Work before being finalised next year until 2025 .
McNally said an accord could quickly be reached if management considers the union ’ s concerns around casualisation , academic freedom and workloads .
“ Everything will depend on management ’ s attitude , we are prepared to negotiate and finalise an agreement ,” he said .
A Griffith University spokesperson told Campus Review the university is “ thankful to all staff who participated in the ballot despite the proposal not having the union approval ”.
“ The one-off payment will be paid without waiting for the Fair Work Commission to approve the agreement .” Griffith University Vice Chancellor Carolyn Evans wrote in a statement .
“ We will now recommence negotiations with the NTEU on the benefits and conditions of the academic staff agreement .
“ We will continue to engage with academic colleagues to help determine which elements of the agreement [ they ] have the most significant concerns about .” ■
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