Tertiary Update Volume 12 Number 31

An all-day strike occurred yesterday at the six polytechnics where TEU members voted last week to take industrial action unless their employers came back with an improved offer. When the employees – at NorthTec, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, Waikato Institute of Technology, Western Institute of Technology in Taranaki, Whitireia Polytechnic, and Unitec – didn’t receive what they sought, industrial action became inevitable.

The industrial action is a response to employer attempts to increase teaching days for academic staff from 185 to 204 per year. Employers also are offering a mere one percent salary increase, with no back-dating, over a 24 month term from the date of signing. By contrast, at some sites non-union staff have received between 4 and 6 percent, backdated to January 2009.

“Our members are doing all they can for their polytechnics,” said Irena Brorens, TEU national industrial officer. “Enrolments are up and these tutors and lecturers are crucial in the current economic environment, giving job skills to people who need them. But their employers are telling them that they are not working hard enough, and effectively that they should be paid less.” It’s simply not fair.”

Media coverage of the strike and photos from pickets around the North Island are available on the TEU website.

Also in Tertiary Update this week:

1. Council Chair says WITT’s hands are tied
2. Strike looms at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
3. Staff-student relationships post-Weatherston
4. Law change needed to address Undie 500 riots
5. More tertiary education opportunities in Solomons
6. Australian university staff strike out for 4 -6% rise

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TEU Tertiary Update is published weekly on Thursdays and distributed freely to members of the Tertiary Education Union and others. You can subscribe to Tertiary Update by email or feed reader. Back issues are available on the TEU website. Direct inquiries should be made to Stephen Day, email: http://scr.im/stephenday