July 16, 2020

Positive outcome in efforts to save jobs at UOW

Support from local union representatives secured for employment agreement variation proposals

University of Wollongong (UOW) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Wellings CBE, is pleased to announce that the University’s Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) has reached agreement on variations to Enterprise Agreements that will help UOW return to a sustainable financial position, while preserving as many jobs as possible.

The agreement followed a marathon day of discussions, which ended just before the nominated deadline of midnight, Wednesday 15 July 2020.

This latest round of talks was the culmination of four weeks of constructive, good-faith engagement, during which local Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and management representatives explored many measures to minimise job losses while achieving the necessary employment-related savings.

This milestone marks the close of these consultations. Local union branch leaders will now seek the support of their local members for the proposed Enterprise Agreement variations.

“Since the very beginning of our response to COVID-19, the University’s priorities have remained protecting the health and safety of students and staff, upholding the quality of our teaching and research and safeguarding our financial viability while preserving as much employment as possible.

“I want to thank all those involved in these discussions for their openness and professionalism that have helped us achieve this milestone.

“I look forward to a positive endorsement from local union members to support the steps their representatives have taken with us to protect as many local jobs and household livelihoods as possible while we work together to prepare for a post-COVID-19 world,” Professor Wellings said.

Local union branch representatives are expected to brief their local members on the agreement over the next 24 hours.

If there is local union support, the University will put these proposed variations to its Academic and Professional Services Enterprise Agreements to staff for a seven day formal notice period followed by a secret ballot. If these variations are supported by staff, an employment agreement variation application will be lodged with the Fair Work Commission.

The formal notice period is expected to commence after midday on Friday 17 July, ending after midday on Friday 24 July, with voting opening immediately after the notice period closes and remaining open until 5pm on Tuesday 28 July.

If the proposals are not supported by staff, the University will immediately begin pursuing the necessary savings by strategically reshaping and resizing its workforce under the terms of existing employment agreements.

Media resources

A backgrounder summarising the proposed employment agreement variations is available via Drop Box here.