The Guardian 14 May, 2008
WorkChoices back in universities?
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) is concerned that the Coalition will use its majority in the Senate to reimpose WorkChoices type regulations on our universities. Senator Brett Mason (Liberal Queensland) has given notice that on May 14, 2008 he will move to disallow Minister Julia Gillard’s amendments to Commonwealth Grant Scheme (CGS) Guidelines. If this disallowance motion is successful, about $300 million of university funding will once again be made conditional on universities complying with the controversial Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements (HEWRRs) and National Governance Protocols.
"While the Coalition is claiming its objective is to maintain the governance protocols, if it is successful in its disallowance motion next Wednesday the effect will be to immediately reinstate both the HEWRRs (effectively WorkChoices for universities) and the National Governance Protocols," Dr Carolyn Allport, National President of the NTEU said.
"Not only does this mean that universities will be the only sector of the Australian economy subject to excessive WorkChoices type regulation it also means about $300 million of university funding will be made conditional on universities meeting them."
"If the HEWRRs are reinstated universities will be forced, amongst other things, to offer all of their employees Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs). This is despite the fact that the offering of AWAs is now illegal."
The Coalition claimed earlier this year that they had heard the decision of the people in last year’s federal election and therefore would not oppose the removal of WorkChoices.
"The NTEU would ask the Coalition to adhere to its previous commitments not to oppose the withdrawal of WorkChoices and abandon its attempts to reimpose WorkChoices style conditions on universities by moving to disallow Minister Gillard’s amendments to the CGS Guidelines," said Ms Allport.
"It’s only fair that staff at our universities have the same workplace rights as all other Australian workers."