Federation University staff to strike over job security and pay

National Tertiary Education Union

National Tertiary Education Union members at Federation University will go on strike over management's opposition to job security and fair pay for casual staff.

An overwhelming majority of union members have voted to stop work for 24 hours on Thursday November 17.

Management has refused to accept core claims during enterprise bargaining including measures to ensure more jobs are secure and the right for staff to work from home.

FedUni has also refused to give casuals fair pay and knocked back other good-faith proposals on consultation of staff.

Members at FedUni's major Victorian campuses will join a mass protest on the Mt Helen campus from 11.30am on Thursday, with speeches from union members and local community leaders concerned about the direction of the University.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend the rally in support of the striking workers.

"NTEU members are fed up with FedUni management's capricious and tardy approach to bargaining," NTEU FedUni Branch President Mathew Abbott said.

"We negotiated in good faith only to have FedUni reject reasonable claims designed to cut down on insecure work and enshrine basic rights in the agreement.

"We'd love to see anyone who supports our desire to make Federation University the strongest possible institution for regional communities join us at Thursday's rally.

"This strike will send a clear message to management's bargaining team that it needs to return to the table and get serious about our reasonable claims."

NTEU members in FedUni's business discipline started an indefinite strike on Monday over deep concerns about job security and poor consultation with staff.

"These staff are showing immense courage and determination which is an inspiration to all FedUni staff suffering from management's addiction to restructures," Dr Abbott said.

"Union members are looking forward to showing solidarity with their business colleagues as we stop work for 24 hours to show management enough is enough."

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