National Tertiary Education Union members at the Cairns and Townsville campuses of James Cook University have taken a major step towards launching industrial action.
Members have voted unanimously to apply to the Fair Work Commission for a Protected Action Ballot Order, which would allow them to move to industrial action.
Management has forced NTEU members into the step by refusing to act on key claims for better job security, reasonable workloads and a decent pay increase.
The enterprise agreement expired 15 months ago and despite eye-watering profits JCU has failed to make a reasonable offer that allows staff to keep up with the soaring cost of living.
There are fears more brutal staff and resource cuts - which have been in place since 2015 - could be on the way in a restructure next week.
Any industrial action would be set to start next month.
Quotes attributable to Jonathan Strauss, NTEU JCU Branch President:
"JCU staff were already among the lowest paid university workers in the country and now inflation is eroding our wages.
"If we don't get a decent salary increase, JCU will struggle to retain and attract the best staff. That will have a huge impact on higher education in Cairns and Townsville.
"We don't want to take industrial action and will always avoid affecting students where possible but management has left us with no choice.
"We need a decent pay rise, reasonable workloads and better job security."
Quotes attributable to NTEU Queensland Secretary, Michael McNally:
"JCU made $24 million dollars profit in each of the past two years - a real pay rise is affordable and essential.
"Job security is a major issue for staff as it looks like there might be more job losses coming with a massive restructure dropping next week.
"The enterprise agreement expired 15 months ago. Negotiations dragged on last time too - we don't want to let that happen again."
