WA Uni. staff reject non-union deal

Date: 23 May 2000

Attempts by Western Australia's Murdoch University to impose a non-union agreement on campus have failed dismally.

Around 80 per cent of the University's General Staff have voted to reject a management-devised agreement which had not been negotiated with either employees or their Unions.

Almost 500 General Staff - both Union members and non-Union members - voted in the ballot.

The result, according to the Community and Public Sector Union, is not only a victory for workers' rights but also a critical blow to the Federal Government's workplace relations agenda.

CPSU Organiser Glenn McLaren said Murdoch University was the first University in Western Australia to attempt to impose a non-union agreement.

Staff had already passed a motion of no confidence in the Vice Chancellor, Steven Schwartz and the unprincipled actions taken in proposing the non-union agreement which sought, among other things, to pave the way for the introduction of individual work contracts.

Mr McLaren said the Community and Public Sector Union and Miscellanous Workers Union are now calling on the University to resume collective negotiations.

CPSU Assistant Secretary Toni Walkington said the whole exercise has been an expensive and pointless fiasco.

She said it should drive home to both management and the Federal Government that workers will treat with contempt any move to blackmail or bully them into accepting inferior conditions.

"It has been clear all along that staff simply wanted a fair and negotiated agreement and not one that seeks to intimidate employees and down-grade working conditions and University services," Ms Walkington said.

"It is now time for the University to listen to own workforce and negotiate with their Unions in a decent and professional manner."

For further information

Contact:	WA TLC
Union:	Western Australian Unions
Email:	mw@cpsucsa.asn.au

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