General staff union at Southern Cross welcomes backdown

Branch President of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) at Southern Cross University, Ms Toni Ledgerwood, has welcomed the Senate’s passing of the amended Higher Education Support Bill.

"By amending the legislation, the Senate has chosen to reject key elements of the Commonwealth Government's intended higher education workplace reforms," Ms Ledgerwood said.

"University staff and unions have forced the government to take a huge step back from the draconian reforms it was originally so gung-ho about foisting onto universities."

"The amended package stops the federal government forcing universities to offer staff secret individual contracts or Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) in exchange for funding."

"Further, the original requirement that universities remove ceilings on the rates of casual employment are gone."

"So too the potential, or rather intent, to reduce staff conditions to quote, "minimum community standards"."

"I am glad that the message which we took to the independent senators has largely been absorbed, and I have no doubt that our input helped them to arrive at their decision to stare the government down."

"General staff at Southern Cross University, and across the country, have fought hard to protect employee benefits and stop increases in rates of casual employment - our members have waged a committed and informative campaign."

"I am particularly proud of the contribution and action of general staff members at Southern Cross during our Day of Action here in Lismore on October 17."

"Sometimes you've got to get out there with your colleagues and stand up for yourself."

"The Federal Government's backdown is a sign that it cannot stand over union members who are determined to stand up for their rights," Ms Ledgerwood said.

The CPSU's Organiser at Southern Cross University, Stephen Senise, said that one continuing source of disappointment was the Senate's decision to allow student fee increases and the removal of student and staff representation on university councils.

Mr Senise added that the CPSU would now call on all State Governments to reject any legislative changes that would remove student and staff representation on university councils, and that it would urge Vice Chancellors nation wide to resist increasing student fees.

"The threat to university independence continues," Mr Senise said. "We need to remain vigilant, because this government will not miss a chance to introduce mayhem into the tertiary sector."

"Its agenda remains, increased casualisation, individual workplace agreements (AWAs), and no role for unions or unionised staff in the life of the university - while at the same time raising student fees higher and higher."

"This government doesn't like universities, and it doesn't understand universities. For Howard, Nelson and Tony Abbott, a university should be run like a factory."

"For them, a university should cease to be a marketplace for ideas, and just exist as a marketplace."

"Because of this mindset, we see it us one of the key roles of the Community & Public Sector Union, not only to defend the conditions of our members, but also the very integrity of the universities to which they are professionally dedicated," Mr Senise said