Collective action saves jobs.

Hau Taki Haere | Tertiary Update Vol 27, No 18

Both Te Pūkenga and Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University confirmed new structures last week, and in both institutions the number of compulsory redundancies, while still significant, is considerably lower than originally proposed.

At Te Pūkenga the number of full time equivalent (FTE) positions that will be disestablished has reduced by around 300, while at Te Herenga Waka the final number of compulsory job losses is down to around 50 FTE – four months after the Vice Chancellor announced up to 260 jobs were on the line back in May.

Te Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education Union Te Pou Ahurei | National Secretary Sandra Grey says “as a union we will always fight hard against any proposal to cut jobs in our sector, which is already cut to the bone due to decades of underfunding. And we will keep fighting for the people, programmes and courses that remain on the chopping block.”

“But while doing that, we must also congratulate the members who fought so hard to write the submissions (8,500 at Te Pūkenga alone), go to the rallies, lobby the politicians and apply the public pressure that has saved hundreds of jobs. In doing so they did what they were repeatedly told could not be done – they secured an unprecedented funding correction from the government that has made a significant difference.”

“What this shows is the power of standing together and working collectively not just as the staff of any one institution, but as the staff of an entire sector. When we speak with one voice we achieve big things.”

Also in this update:

• Day of action yields political commitments
• Pay Equity videos launched
• TEU national elections

Other Stories:

Te Pūkenga restructure has ‘broken’ people staff say – The Post

'Devastated': Victoria University axes 229 jobs and six courses – 1 News

Education funding shortfall a ‘long-term collective failure’ – The Post

Unis, polytechs hold stop work meetings to highlight struggles – 1 News