TEU’s bargaining team at the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) has reached a proposed settlement with the polytechnic. The agreement, which members have voted to put to ratification shortly, will provide members with pay increases of 1.95 percent for each of the next two years as well as a $750 lump sum in the first year and a $500 lump sum in the second year.

More importantly however, the agreement does not contain any changes to existing working conditions for staff at the polytechnic.

“Academics at many polytechnics around the rest of the country are under pressure from their employer to give up leave, work longer hours and less social hours,” said TEU national secretary Sharn Riggs. “It’s great to see an employer who recognises the fact that work can be done effectively by trusting members to do their job well, rather than wanting to micro-manage their working conditions.”