
Issue No 36		22 October 1999

News

Reith’s Plan for Universities Exposed

The Government's proposals to link additional funding for salaries to the Coalition's `workplace reform' agenda were given substance in a speech by Minister Peter Reith to representatives of the `Group of Eight' universities in Canberra this week.


	Students Rally against Uni Plans

While not prescribing the terms under which funding would be available, Reith's speech revealed the substance of the Government's agenda for industrial

relations in universities. He targeted the following areas reform:

- inclusion of Australian Workplace Agreements,

- making processes for redundancy and staff transfer more `timely and effective'

- development of classification levels at departmental or faculty level making pay rises contingent revenue increases

- provision for non-union agreements

- removing or streamlining processes for consultation

`This is a very sweeping reform agenda which completely undermines university autonomy, and reveals the Government's ideological obsession,' says NTEU General Secretary Graeme McCulloch.

`By seeking to dictate to universities the terms of their enterprise agreements, the Government is holding the sector to ransom,' he continued.

"David Kemp has acknowledged that universities desperately need an injection of money to assist in meeting the costs of payrises and information technology infrastructure.

" The Government should make that funding available now, and not conditional upon staff and managers succumbing to its ideologically-driven agenda.'

Mr McCulloch says Reith's comments about `collegiality' masking poor performance and accountability revealed a contempt for the culture of higher education, and a refusal to acknowledge the significant productivity increases that have been achieve over the past decade.

"Collegiality is about the partnerships between staff and students which make the educational experience rewarding and valuable to the entire community.

"It's about the right to speak without fear or favour, and to participate in the governance structures of our higher education institutions. In its place, Reith and Kemp want to create a culture of fear. They are, by their actions, fanning the flames of division and discord.'

"Nobody should be fooled - this debate is not about increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of universities. It's about eroding the right of staff to organise collectively and to question the agenda of the Government.'

The NTWU has called on the Vice-Chancellors to defend the higher education sector from this attack, and to distance themselves from the Government's plans.

In his speech the Minister praised UNSW, the University of Queensland, the ANU and the University of Melbourne for putting up non-union ballots and seeking to make payrises contingent on revenue growth.

`University staff have rejected these options resoundingly. The Vice-Chancellors of these universities should immediately make their position on the Government's proposals clear.'

This week thousands attended rallies around Australia calling on the Government to reverse its destructive policies on higher education.

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  Issue 36 contents

Interview: When All’s Not WEL
Suzanne Hammond explains how the federal government’s decision to cut off funding to the Womens’ Electoral Lobby wil impact on all women.

Republic: The Great Constitutional Swindle
In an upcoming book, Peter Botsman argues the blanding out of Australian consitutional history is one of the big barriers to the Republican cause.

Unions: Beaten by the Clock
Ron Callus from ACIRRT counts the social cost of increased working hours.

International: Pakistan Military Urged to Protect Workers' Rights
The ICFTU is urging General Pervez Musharraf, who yesterday seized power in a military coup, to take urgent steps to ensure a return to constitutional rule in the shortest possible time.

History: How the Cunning Fox Survived
Len Fox recently turned 94. He celebrated the event by sending out copies of his latest publication to friends; a booklet of his selected pencil and crayon sketches since 1925, with autobiographical commentaries.

Satire: Direct Electionists to Keep Voting No
Pro-direct election republicans who plan to vote “no” in the upcoming referendum have announced plans to extend their approach to every future election held in Australia.

Labour Review: What's New at the Information Centre
Read the latest issue of Labour review, a resource for union officials and students.

Review: Bowing down before Globalzilla
It is my experience that books that have the word "globalization" in the title should be avoided at all costs.

» Timorese Appeal to Democrats to Dump Reith’s Wave

» Opera House Keeps New Years in the Family

» Stressed Out: The Incredibly Shrinking Lunch Break

» Kennett Fall a Warning to Carr

» Combet Steps Up To The Plate

» Thirty Hours at the Wheel - Then Sacked for Complaining

» Reith’s Plan for Universities Exposed

» Hockey Sticks With the Banks

» Push to Downgrade Industrial Tribunals

» Peace Stalks the Gong as Matters Bows Out

» Rock the Republic - It’s Time

» Guest Report

» Sport

» Trades Hall

» Piers Watch

» Vizard Critics Peddling Lies

» Republic Soapbox

» Barbies and Kens Eye High Office

» Guilty! I Agree with Howard

» Egan Speaks - Des Moore's No Friend of Mine!

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