Skip to content
Education Training, Union

Victoria University redundancies risk devastating consequences: union

National Tertiary Education Union < 1 mins read

Victoria University’s plan to scrap 300 jobs will have a devastating impact on staff, the National Tertiary Education Union said today. 

 

VU’s voluntary redundancy program aims to shed 300 full-time equivalent roles out of 1875 FTE positions by September. 

 

The University failed in its legal obligations under the enterprise agreement to consult with staff or the union before making the decision. 

 

VU’s failure to consult with staff also doesn’t comply with its obligations under the Victorian Health and Safety Act to consult before implementing measures affecting workplace health and safety, including workloads . 

 

NTEU Victorian Division Secretary Sarah Roberts said university management’s decision was incredibly disappointing. 

 

“Deciding to cut 300 jobs without talking to staff or the NTEU is completely unacceptable, and inimical to the welfare of staff who have already endured multiple redundancy rounds in recent years,” she said. 

 

“VU management has also failed to comply with workplace health and safety laws, and its obligations under the enterprise agreement. 

 

“We know VU staff are already facing extreme and unsafe workloads. Slashing a sixth of the workforce will have devastating consequences. 

 

NTEU Victoria University Branch Vice President Dr Matthew Klugman decried management’s rushed, haphazard process. 

 

“Staff are shellshocked. It’s simply unfathomable that the university refuses to work with staff, and instead has sprung on them a massive set of redundancies without even consulting," he said.

 

“It is time for the University to create an ethical, sustainable workload for all its staff. We will stand side by side with our colleagues throughout the entire process.”


Contact details:

Sarah Roberts 0412 495 146 / Matt Coughlan 0400 561 480

More from this category

  • Education Training
  • 19/02/2025
  • 06:55
Women's Health in the South East

Victoria’s TAFEs and RTOs Called to Champion Respect and Equality in 2025 Campaign

Victoria’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector is set to take a leading role in fostering respect, equality, and safe learning environments as part…

  • Contains:
  • Agriculture Farming Rural, Education Training
  • 17/02/2025
  • 07:00
Nuffield Australia

Be curious, drive change with a 2026 Nuffield scholarship

MEDIA RELEASEMonday, 17 February 2025 Be curious, drive change with a 2026 Nuffield scholarship Nuffield Australia has today opened applications for its 2026 scholarships, calling on the next crop of Australian agriculturalists to be curious, drive change and help their industry thrive. Farmers and those working in the agriculture industry are encouraged to seize the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by applying for a scholarship for 15 weeks of overseas study. Nuffield Australia CEO and 2013 scholar Jodie Redcliffe said Nuffield scholarships were recognised as the pinnacle of industry-based, experiential learning for primary producers. “Scholars have a unique opportunity to visit, learn from…

  • Contains:
  • Government NSW, Union
  • 17/02/2025
  • 06:01
Unions NSW

Thousands of south coast workers to suffer under proposed cuts to penalty rates

Thousands of workers on the NSW south coast could lose crucial penalty rates and workplace entitlements if the Australian Retailers Association’s application to the Fair Work Commission succeeds, new data has revealed. The proposed cuts seek to abolish overtime, weekend and evening penalty rates, reduce rest time between shifts, remove work breaks and scrap annual leave loading for retail workers. In exchange, workers will receive a salary increase of 25% under the proposal, which falls seriously short of compensating for the significant loss of these protections. According to ABS data, 13,000 permanent award-reliant workers in the electorates of Gilmore and…

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.