The National Tertiary Education Union has submitted a Freedom of Information application demanding transparency from the management of the University of Western Australia (UWA) over its ongoing series of change proposals.
The Union estimates that the University's 'Structural Reform Program', which intends to deliver $40 million worth of cuts, may lead to 400 redundancies and an untold number of casuals and fixed-term staff losing work now and into the future.
These cuts would result in huge job losses across campus, a reduction in student experience and staff wellbeing, and damage to the University's reputation.
UWA NTEU Branch President Dr Sanna Peden said: "We have been left with no choice but to try and force the University to disclose its justification for the restructures through a Freedom of Information application.
"Transparency is absolutely fundamental to good governance".
"At a bare minimum, staff deserve open, honest and transparent consultation on all decisions that impact their working lives. Instead, there are serious doubts about the rationale for cuts at UWA".
"Staff do not know which areas are going to be cut next, or on what basis".
"The lack of transparency in the School of Social Sciences is particularly concerning. Staff in the School do not have confidence in the data that the Head of School and Vice Chancellor have used to justify the cuts.
"Frankly, staff feel disrespected by University management".
"Universities are public institutions run for the public good, and they should be governed openly and transparently. We call on UWA management to take staff concerns seriously and disclose how job cuts are being decided".
"Until staff can be confident in the equity and transparency of management decisions, UWA leadership will continue to suffer from a severe trust deficit in the community".
