Unitec lecturers might be striking
Unitec academic staff are considering striking to better their working conditions. On August 21 over 230 academic staff were invited to attend the Unitec stop work meeting to take to the polls over the move for further possible industrial action. Negotiations between the Tertiary Education Union (TEU) and employers at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, NorthTec, Whitireia, WINTEC, WITT and Unitec have adjourned after an offer was put on the table. The offer includes a one percent salary rise with no back dating, a 24 month term from the date of signing, all discretionary leave at the employer’s discretion, an increase to teaching days from 185 to 204 it will also see a working party setup to identify ways to improve productivity of staff. However, more hours could mean less quality in delivery of education TEU national industrial officer Irena Brorens says. “Academics cannot continue to provide the same level of teaching and learning when they are being asked to sacrifice the time they spend preparing, marking, assessing and researching so that they can teach longer and longer hours.” Sarah Hardman the Unitec TEU branch chair told the USU Executive meeting academic staff don’t want to take industrial action as this will set back their students and impede their learning. Unitec has over 450 full time academic staff. In the past it has been accused of not supporting unions, In Unison asked Unitec chief executive Rick Ede if this was the case, but he felt the accusation was unfair. “I don't buy it myself, I have no view whatsoever if staff are in unions or not, it's individual choice." Dr Ede would not comment on Unitec's position with the TEU saying, "It's not good faith bargaining to get into that," but said they were committed to negotiate. The results of the poll to take industrial action will be known on the 4th September 2009.