UQ union members meet

Wednesday, August 6, 1997 - 10:00

UQ union members meet

By Kathy Newnam

BRISBANE — A rally of 100 National Tertiary Education and Industry Union members at the University of Queensland on July 31 discussed the enterprise bargaining process currently taking place. The rally also heard speakers addressing the decline in the quality of education.

Di Zetlin, acting president of the NTEU branch and rally organiser, told the crowd that the NTEU had been attempting to negotiate with management since the beginning of the year. The key issue is management's determination not to recognise award entitlements relating to redundancies.

A letter from management rejecting the union's demand that those facing the sack be offered a choice between award entitlements and the university's package was read to the rally. Management has proposed further negotiations.

In response, Zetlin proposed that the union's plans to distribute protest leaflets at the University Careers and Counselling Expo be cancelled to show "good faith". The members voted overwhelmingly against this proposal.

From GLW issue 284