Swinburne responds to false NTEU claims

Swinburne has responded to false claims that Vocational Education and Training (VET) staff are being stood down
In summary
- Swinburne’s partial work ban notice does not mean any staff have been stood down without pay.
- We disagree with and very much regret the use of students’ results, part of their future careers, as a tactic by NTEU and we seek a fair and reasonable outcome for this process.
- The University’s bargaining team will meet with the unions again shortly to seek to resolve a new enterprise agreement and bring this matter to a close.
The National Tertiary Education Union’s claims about Vocational Education and Training (VET) staff being stood down are completely false.
Swinburne’s partial work ban notice does not mean any staff have been stood down without pay.
The protected industrial action taking place amongst VET employees over the past 12 months has included the refusal to record student engagement and attendance, bans on recording student results, bans on attending meetings and bans on responding to email, telephone and in-person enquiries. These actions disrupt the student experience and increase pressure on other staff who are performing all their usual duties.
The notice issued by Swinburne means that any staff who engage in any of the bans will not be entitled to any payments for that day. This in no way constitutes any employees being stood down from their positions, in fact we welcome our staff to perform all their normal duties.
Swinburne recognise and respect a union member’s right to engage in protected industrial action. Swinburne is exercising its right to deduct the pay from those union members who choose to engage in protected industrial action. Swinburne issued this notice because the ongoing disruptions to students’ learning experience is unsustainable. It is precisely to prevent disruption of our students’ studies that we have decided to utilise the options legally available to us.
We disagree with and very much regret the use of students’ results, part of their future careers, as a tactic by NTEU and we seek a fair and reasonable outcome for this process.
We regret the impact that the continuing industrial action is having on our students’ learning experience and remain committed to seeking a fair and reasonable conclusion to enterprise bargaining.
Swinburne has engaged in good faith negotiations since October 2020, and will continue to do so. In acknowledgement of the time elapsed since then, the University awarded a 2 per cent salary increase, backdated to July 2021, to all staff under the VET Agreement while negotiations continued.
The University’s bargaining team will meet with the unions again shortly to seek to resolve a new enterprise agreement and bring this matter to a close.
-
Media Enquiries
Related articles
-
- University
Swinburne and Breakthrough Victoria create $18 million investment partnership to support Swinburne spinouts
Swinburne University of Technology will co-invest $9 million in investment, which is matched by Breakthrough Victoria, to create new ventures to drive commercialisation of our research.
Thursday 21 September 2023 -
- Business
Swinburne alum and global HR leader unlocking people’s ‘inner hero’
Anoop Chaudhuri’s career with Ford has spanned more than thirty years, three continents and 14 roles. He now leads HR for Ford and is passionate about helping individuals and teams thrive.
Thursday 21 September 2023 -
- University
Vice-Chancellor Professor Pascale Quester reappointed for second term
The Swinburne University of Technology Council has approved the reappointment of Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pascale Quester, for a second five-year term.
Monday 07 August 2023 -
- Health
- University
Swinburne to help drive change in Victoria’s mental health system
Swinburne is an academic partner within the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing’s Adult and Older Adult Best Practice Consortium.
Thursday 10 August 2023 -
- University
Swinburne Alumni Impact Awards finalists driving positive change
Swinburne has announced the nine finalists for the 2023 Alumni Impact Awards which celebrate exceptional alumni who are helping to build a better world.
Thursday 10 August 2023