The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) has requested the intervention of workplace health and safety regulators in Victoria, NSW, Queensland and the ACT to ensure the university meets its work health and safety obligations.
All staff, who had not already returned and didn’t have an individual working from home arrangement in place, were forced to work on campus from Monday despite university management failing to undertake adequate consultation with staff. Staff working in Victoria were directed to return to campus in direct contradiction of the Victorian State Government advice that those who can work from home should work from home.
ACU released a risk assessment on 10 February detailing the measures that it believes are sufficient to allow staff and students to be back on campus. The assessment was drafted on 7 February, more than a month after the decision to return was made and without consultation with employees as required by the WHS Laws.
The NTEU is concerned with the lack of consultation, a lack of transparency, a decision to only provide N95 masks to students and staff involved in practical classes but not in any other setting, and a failure to issue guidelines on whether staff or students should complete a negative Rapid Antigen Test prior to returning to campus following a positive test. ACU has also indicated that it does not have data on ventilation of workspaces, providing no surety to employees that their offices are safe.
NTEU ACU Branch President Leah Kaufmann said given their efforts over the past two years staff, at the very least, deserve to be consulted on return on work mandates as the law requires.
“ACU staff have demonstrated commitment and diligence in teaching and research, and in supporting students and learning throughout the pandemic. They have done this on campus and remotely as directed and in the face of significant uncertainty. At the end of 2021, our staff were informed that they would return to campus in January 2022 without regard for their circumstances, concerns, or preferences,” Dr Kaufmann said.
“ACU management must provide the required consultation. Staff are asking only for what the laws require, the opportunity to understand how ACU will ensure they return to healthy and safe campuses, what their role and responsibilities are, and an assurance that ACU is taking all the reasonably practicable measures to ensure their safety.
On behalf of our members at ACU, the NTEU has advocated for these outcomes to support the mental and physical well-being of staff, and will continue to do so.”
NTEU National Assistant Secretary Gabe Gooding said all universities must undertake proper consultation with staff and unions before forcing them to return to work in person and they must show evidence that the safety of their staff and students is the primary concern.
“The threat of Omicron is real, particularly for those who are disabled or immunocompromised. We can’t now pretend it’s over when there are still more than 200,000 active cases across Australia,” Ms Gooding said.
“As employers, universities have an obligation to guarantee the health, safety and welfare of staff, students, and visitors who enter university premises or conduct work.
“We are working to ensure the safety of the university community, and that the health and safety of our members, is the fundamental driver of decision-making by our universities.
“Vibrant campuses are an important part of the educational experience, but they cannot come at the expense of the health and safety of employees.”
