AUT bad faith – TEU legal action.

Te Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education Union has filed a legal case in the Employment Relations Authority, alleging breaches of good faith and discrimination against union members by Te Wānanga Aronui O Tamaki Makau Rau | Auckland University of Technology.

At the core of the dispute is a $2750 payment to non-members arranged in a manner which TEU argues has undermined the bargaining, undermined the union, undermined union members and has discriminated unlawfully.

AUT has also refused to continue with bargaining until the union accepts changes to restructuring provisions in the collective agreement that would make it easier for the employer to make people redundant.

Te Pou Ahurei Takirua – Ahumahi | Assistant National Secretary – Industrial, Daniel Benson-Guiu says “AUT’s behaviour is unacceptable. They are trying to bribe staff with a one-off $2750 payment to give up the right to fair process next time the employer decides to make layoffs.”

“It’s a clear case of sour grapes due to AUT losing multiple legal cases in early 2023 because they were incapable of following their own restructuring processes. Simply put, it’s like trying to get the rules of rugby changed after getting swept in a test series.”

In addition to the legal challenge, TEU members are considering strike action in the new year.

Benson-Guiu says “all our options are open until AUT comes back to the table and starts negotiating constructively and in good faith.”