Union could 'dispute' UNE job cuts without more transparency from university

Union members, meeting on short notice on Thursday afternoon, demanded the university open its books to justify the proposed 'restructure' of the university, and threatened to "dispute" the process "should appropriate information not be furnished to all staff".

Spokesperson Dr Bea Bleile, a senior lecturer in mathematics, said staff at the meeting responded with "alarm and dismay" to the announcement on Wednesday that the University of New England would slash $20 million in positions.

One colleague told her if the presentation were an exam they had to assess "it would be a fail or, to be kind, a revise and resubmit," she said.

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She said the National Tertiary Education Union branch was still largely in the dark about the nature of the cuts, despite an obligation the university consult about any "organisational change".

The union is for instance not clear whether the $20 million cut only applies to one year or if it's a permanent cut to university budgets, she said.

"The presentation was vague, lacked substance and detail. It raised more questions than it answered," Dr Bleile said.

"It increased disquiet and concern among staff and students, rather than diminishing them."

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UNE Vice-Chancellor and CEO Brigid Heywood, in a statement,said the $20 million "saving" will apply "per annum" "to secure UNE's longer term financial sustainability and to release funds for investment in both new faculty, in research and in critical infrastructure".

She contested the union's view the restructure triggers the "organisational change" clause and defended the university's record on consultation.

"UNE is committed to managing the redesign and organisational change in a transparent and constructive manner," she said.

"UNE has consulted with the unions on a regular basis leading up to the staff briefing on Wednesday and will continue to do so as the redesign unfolds."

Asked if the university had made efforts to cut non-staff or non-academic costs before jobs, Dr Heywood said they had taken other measures, including a pay freeze at senior level, an incentive scheme to reduce leave balances and a recruitment freeze.

"Unfortunately, these options are short-term solutions and do not support financial sustainability in the long term," she said.

The UNE has been one of the least affected by the COVID-19 crisis that has devastated Australia's tertiary education sector, providing most of its classes online even before the crisis.

Dr Bleile, who started as a casual at the university in 1992, said the proposed job cuts would have a "devastating" impact on the city of Armidale.

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