New Zealand : University staff vote on strike action
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Monday, 5 September 2016, 3:26 pm
Press Release: Tertiary Education Union | ||
Tertiary Education Union - Te Hautū Kahurangi oAotearoa
5 September 2016
University staff vote onstrike action
The Tertiary Education Union
members at theUniversity of Auckland are being asked to decide whether totake strike action, after three months of negotiations havefailed to see the employer table a pay offer.
TEU membersat UoA want to see an end to an unpopular performance basedpay system, where only around 9% of workers progress throughthe pay structure. They also want to make sure everyoneworking at the University earns a Living Wage.
But TEUAdvocate Enzo Giodani says the most fundamental reason forthe dispute is the University’s steadfast refusal togenuinely negotiate with union members.
“This employerconstantly tells us that they are unable to talk to us aboutpay until after they set their budgets in October. By thenit’s too late as important funding decisions have alreadybeen made.”
“Workers expect to be in the mix whenmoney is being allocated by the university, not after thefact.”
Other universities around New Zealand havesimilar budget setting processes as the University ofAuckland, but this is the only employer that leaves itsworkers out in the cold.
“All we want as workers is tonegotiate a salary increase. We are not asking for anythingoutrageous here, just to be afforded the respect of agenuine negotiation,” Giordani says.
The strike ballotopened on Monday 5 September and will close on Friday 9September.
ENDS