Michelle Slater
Federation University business school staff are on an indefinite strike over concerns about job security amid impending course cuts, restructures and rounds of redundancies.
National Tertiary Education Union business school members at three campuses including Churchill, Berwick and Ballarat commenced industrial action this morning.
Nearly one third of staff in business programs are facing redundancy, while the number of courses on offer is set to be reduced by two thirds if restructures go ahead.
Union members are also calling on management to clearly outline the purpose of these restructures, and then publish the results of the outcomes.
Members will be meeting daily to consider management’s response to their action and how long the strike could continue.
FedUni human resource management Professor Philip Taylor said he was “bewildered” that the university would be considering cuts to the business school amid a tight labour market.
Prof Taylor said the latest concerns come off the back of the uni axing a major unit in human resources management last year.
“Why, at a time of transformation in the Latrobe Valley, the university can’t continue to put up a vibrant business school? Gippsland needs a successful business school,” Prof Taylor said.
“We are facing an unprecedented labour market, businesses are transforming towards a green future and this school can help businesses get there.
“This presents a strong case to invest in the business school, not divest. There is no logic that I can discern in the actions of FedUni management.”
Prof Taylor said union members were proposing that individual staff members should not be subjected to more than one change process every three years.
He said this would improve the uni’s sustainability, protect staff mental health, and help deliver these courses in the regions.
“We are calling on management to agree to this and other NTEU clauses designed to make FedUni a more safe and secure place to work,” Dr Taylor said.
“It’s time to stop the endless restructures and start governing sustainably and strategically instead.”
A Federation University Australia spokesperson said the university wanted a “fair outcome” for all its staff, but it must be sustainable.
The spokesperson said they remained hopeful of reaching a “fair result” for all staff, “while recognising the need to be fiscally responsible during a challenging time for the university sector”.
“Universities across Australia have been hit hard by COVID-19, with falling student numbers impacting our budgets and forcing us to make difficult choices,” the spokesperson said.
“Federation, with the great support of our staff, has developed and is implementing a roadmap to a strong and sustainable future.”
