Universities face workplace shake-up
The Federal Government has announced reforms to University workplace relations. The new scheme, the Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements, aim to encourage ‘ more direct relationships’ between universities and their employees. The Government is insisting that individual Australian Workplace Agreements or AWA’s be offered to all university employees and that funds from the government not be spent on any union activities. Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews and Education Minister Brendan Nelson claim the changes will lead to more productive and efficient universities. But unions say the moves are ideological and designed to strangle university funds and employment conditions Alma Mistry Spoke to National Tertiary Education Union, Acting President Lyn Bloom, who says the reforms will undermine the conditions of staff at Universities.