Western Sydney University (WSU) staff will strike tomorrow, Tuesday 7 June, for a fair pay rise and secure jobs.
The National Tertiary Education Union has been negotiating with WSU management for a new enterprise agreement for almost 12 months. University management has offered a pitiful 2 per cent per annum pay rise and has stalled on a program to convert large amounts of casual work into secure academic jobs.
Dr David Burchell, President of the NTEU WSU Branch said "Despite negotiating for nearly 12 months, University management has not shifted from a low-ball pay offer. In the context of rising costs of living, this offer is clearly unacceptable."
"We had been negotiating for what would be a sector leading casual conversion scheme, but management has taken this hostage to the pay negotiations. With the university having just posted a surplus of $143 million, it can afford a fair pay rise for staff and a significant conversion of casual work into secure jobs," Dr Burchell said.
Dr Damien Cahill, Secretary of the NTEU NSW said "During the last two years, staff at WSU turned themselves inside out to keep the University afloat during the pandemic. When this is set alongside sky-rocketing inflation, and a massive university surplus, management's 2 per cent pay offer is hard to take seriously."
"Insecure employment is out of control in the university sector. At WSU we were on the cusp of an agreement that would deliver mass conversion of casual work into secure jobs, with good conditions. But management now says if we want this, staff need to accept a pay rise well below inflation. It is time for university management to get serious about investing in secure jobs and a proper pay rise for hard-working staff," Dr Cahill said.
Staff will rally outside the Chancellery Building at the Parramatta South Campus of WSU at 9.30am tomorrow.
