ACTU – Murdoch University attacks on staff damage international reputation

20 December 2016

Murdoch University’s attempts to force their employees onto the safety-net award conditions - stripping conditions and undermining academic independence - is an anti-union attack that risks the world-standard resource which makes Australian Universities so desirable for domestic and international students – their staff.

The ACTU has today written to Vice Chancellor Professor Eeva Leinonen, calling on the university to cease the unnecessary industrial conflict and engage in genuine negotiations with the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) to find a deal which will continue to draw the best and brightest to the university to work and study without cutting pay and stripping conditions.

Quotes attributable to ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver:

• “The unnecessarily aggressive approach taken by Murdoch University is disappointing, and we have written to Vice Chancellor Professor Eeva Leinonen urging her to reconsider this tragically short-sighted action which risks destroying the quality of staff at her university.”
• “We expect that the university will recommence bargaining in good faith with the union and come to an agreement which will not strip of pay and conditions on the understanding that without them, universities are nothing.”
• “With a positive approach from the university, rather than continued antagonism, we believe this dispute can be resolved quickly so that it doesn’t impact on the sterling reputation that Australian higher education sector has rightfully earned internationally.”