Hannah Hammoud
For the second consecutive week, Victoria University (VU) staff launched strike action over workloads, calling for a “fair pay rise”.
Victoria University staff launched a half day strike action on Wednesday, June 5, following a protest rally the week before on May 28, targeting university management over what they’ve described as a lack of a fair pay rise.
The second strike on June 5, took place from noon to midnight across all VU campuses, as anger continues to rise over what staff have declared as a “failure” from the university to give staff a fair pay rise and safe workloads.
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) said despite receiving the union’s claims more than a year ago, VU management has failed to make a “concrete offer” on pay.
NTEU said unmanageable workloads are a major sticking point, with VU’s teaching model and recent job cuts that resulted in almost 20 per cent of staff leaving, putting enormous pressure on remaining staff.
VU’s “block model” teaches students one semester-length subject in four weeks at a time rather than multiple units concurrently like at every other university in Australia.
NTEU VU branch president Brandy Cochrane said instead of trying to resolve the issues, VU management is, “playing for time and not sending anyone with real decision-making power to talk about staff’s reasonable claims”.
“Enough is enough. We expected VU management to come to the table – instead they’ve launched a hard-line attack, increasing already excessive workloads to spread teaching from 36 weeks per year to 40,” Mr Cochrane said.
“Staff have endured hundreds of colleagues being made redundant, an unsafe teaching model and a cost-of-living crisis, yet management clearly thinks they don’t deserve to be paid fairly”.
A Victoria University spokesperson said it is incorrect to suggest VU is “not serious” about the bargaining process and a pay offer.
“In March, all staff colleagues were given a 4 per cent salary increase in recognition of their contribution and ongoing commitment to putting our students at the heart of everything we do,” the spokesperson said.
“We have always maintained a regular leadership presence at the bargaining table, as VU is very keen to conclude bargaining without delay, including further competitive salary increases and new leave entitlements for staff.
“VU is proud of our award-winning and evolving VU Block Model. It is central to the ongoing success of all our students, and as a responsible employer, we are committed to supporting the staff who deliver it.”
