Universities: an end to AWAs

The Community and Public Sector Union, representing General Staff in the University sector, welcomed Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard's announcement that the Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements (HEWRRs), which forced universities to put staff onto AWAs, would be abolished.

CPSU Federal Secretary David Carey said, "The CPSU met with Julie Gillard on 22 January to forcefully put the view of staff that an incoming Labor Government stop tying badly needed funding to AWAs that neither employers or staff wanted."

The Howard Government, through their HEWRRs, forced every university in the country to offer AWAs to all staff, and remove conditions like limits on the use of casuals, for 7.5% of Government funding.

Staff, and even universities in private, told us that this was unnecessary, unfair, and unwanted blackmail from the Howard Government," said Mr Carey.

"The CPSU welcomes Julia Gillard taking seriously the concerns of university staff, and their union representatives, and putting them into action so soon after the election.

The CPSU also welcomes the other announcements made by Julia Gillard yesterday, and looks forward to building on these changes for the betterment of staff and the university sector."