SafeWork NSW has issued Macquarie University with an Improvement Notice after NTEU members raised the alarm on management's failure to adequately consult those impacted in the latest savage restructure.
This restructure will result in the loss of 65 essential staff members and the axing of over 200 units, majors, and degrees.
Under the SafeWork ruling, Macquarie must adequately consult workers and identify hazards and risks. Macquarie must also allow staff to contribute to the decision-making process and show that staff views have been taken into account in their workplace change.
This notice relates specifically to staff in the Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Science and Engineering, both targets of the major proposed restructure. SafeWork has recommended management conduct meetings with WHS committees in each faculty and then give those committees time to consult with all affected workers.
Macquarie University is the second university this year to be pulled up by SafeWork NSW. Macquarie is also facing scrutiny in the Fair Work Commission through a dispute over the failure to properly consult on the proposed cuts.
Quotes attributable to Vince Caughley, NTEU NSW Division Secretary:
"This is now the second major intervention by the safety regulator into a NSW university change process. That is unprecedented, and should deeply concern anyone who cares about the integrity of our public institutions. "In pushing ahead with their damaging change plans, Macquarie University management knew full well what their obligations were under workplace health and safety law, but failed to fulfil them. Even more disturbing, documents we obtained under freedom of information show that Macquarie management had a credible plan that did not involve any job cuts – yet they chose this damaging and reckless path.
"These failures highlight a wider governance problem. Universities are entrusted with enormous public responsibility, yet time and again management choices show a lack of care and accountability. The public is entitled to ask whether those charged with running our universities are fit for the task – and it's exactly why deeper scrutiny and reform of governance is urgently needed."
Quotes attributable to NTEU National President Dr Alison Barnes:
"Too many universities are trying to ram through cuts with zero regard for the health and wellbeing of staff.
"University governance is broken. When executives on outrageous salaries try to tear at the fabric of institutions with impunity, reform is urgent.
"This is exactly why a Senate committee called for universities to adopt best practice consultation with staff and students on major change proposals before decisions are made."
Quotes attributable to Dr Nicholas Harrigan, NTEU MQ Branch President: "Staff have been at breaking point for months now and to have our painful circumstances acknowledged by SafeWork brings a small sense of relief.
"Right now staff feel powerless. We're already overworked, we have one of the world's worst staff to student ratios, and now we're having to explain to students why they won't be able to study critical things like politics, music and ancient history.
"Our safety and wellbeing shouldn't be coming in second place to management's half-baked prioritisation of buildings and vanity projects. We know they have an essentially balanced budget. We know that each lecturer in Arts produces a $500,000 surplus every year. We know students are mortgaging their future for the right to education. And this management wants to deliver cut priced education. It's irresponsible. It's shameful. And it should be stopped.
"Staff and students are calling on regulators and government to fix this crisis manufactured by overpaid, out of touch corporate executives who have taken over Australia's university system."
