Kerry Vernon, Newcastle
The University of Newcastle will expel the offices of staff unions from its campus in November in order to receive an extra $6 million in funding from the federal Coalition government.
A letter of expulsion was sent to the Newcastle branch of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) on October 18. It stated that the unions had to vacate the university premises by November 16.
The university's grounds for expelling the unions is the government's Higher Education Workplace Review Requirements (HEWRRs), which, according to Ian Pike, Newcastle University human resources executive, does not allow the university's resources to be provided to "third parties". In the university's view this means the removal of the unions' accommodation, equipment, property, electronic access and the websites hosted by the university.
"Unlike other universities where they looked at options for the [union] branches", Newcastle University has "made the judgment and told us to leave", Newcastle University NTEU branch president Wayne Reynolds told the October 24 Newcastle Herald.
Both unions have challenged the decision. The NTEU has pointed to its current enterprise agreement with the university, which allows the union adequate facilities, including electronic access, on university premises.
The proposed HEWRRs under the Commonwealth Grants Scheme (which is where the extra money is coming from for Newcastle University) does not override the NTEU's enterprise agreement.
"Statements made in the letter of expulsion are completely false", Chris Game, NTEU divisional secretary told the Newcastle branch NTEU meeting on October 26.
Together, the NTEU and the CPSU represent around 1500 academic and general staff at the Callaghan and Central Coast campuses of Newcastle University and these staff unions have operated on site since Newcastle University was opened in 1965.
If the expulsion order is enforced, union organisers may now have to give advance notice before coming onto campus, and union meetings may have to be held off site.
"We're certainly ready to battle to stay on site", Justin Davis, NTEU industrial officer told the October 26 NTEU branch meeting.
From Green Left Weekly, November 2, 2005.
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