RMIT University staff will launch a week-long strike over management’s failure to offer a decent pay rise during a cost-of-living crisis.
National Tertiary Education Union members will go on strike for the entire working week from Monday when they will vote on a no-confidence motion in RMIT Vice-Chancellor Alec Cameron.
Despite the existing enterprise agreement expiring more than 1000 days ago, management has refused to offer staff a decent pay rise, ease out-of-control workloads or consider reasonable proposals to increase secure work.
RMIT management has also tried to abolish long-standing employment conditions like rights for casuals to convert into secure work in vocational education.
RMIT NTEU Branch President Dr Tricia McLaughlin says there is a clear need for RMIT management to change its tune.
“Staff supported RMIT and students throughout the pandemic,” she said.
“RMIT staff now find themselves with excessive workloads and no negotiated wage increase – RMIT staff deserve better.”
NTEU Victorian Division Secretary Sarah Roberts said the Vice-Chancellor and his executives had shown a shocking lack of respect for staff.
“Staff never take a decision to strike lightly, let alone for an entire working week,” she said.
“It’s completely unacceptable that the wages of RMIT staff are falling behind their colleagues at other Victorian unis simply because management is refusing to negotiate on a fair pay rise.
“Victoria’s universities are suffering from an insecure work crisis while RMIT is rejecting sensible plans to reduce casualisation.
“The sort of bully-boy industrial tactics RMIT has tried to use against staff have no place in any workplace let alone Victoria’s public universities.”
