Skip to content
Education Training, Union

University of Southern Queensland launches attack on staff conditions

National Tertiary Education Union 2 mins read

The University of Southern Queensland has proposed major cuts to staff working conditions while walking away from negotiations with the National Tertiary Education Union.

 

Instead of negotiating constructively with union members, UniSQ management has told staff that they will cease negotiating directly with the Union and will seek conciliation. 

 

UniSQ claims there has been an “extremely protracted” bargaining process. 

 

The NTEU agreed to management’s request to delay the start of bargaining from March 2021 and attempted to get the University to start in July 2022 but it took until December 2022 for the University to come to the table.

 

Staff waited 21 months for negotiations to start.

 

Separately, the NTEU alleges UniSQ management breached the existing enterprise agreement when it tried to make changes to work health and safety arrangements without consultation.

 

NTEU UniSQ Branch President Professor Andrea Lamont-Mills said:

 

“People across Toowoomba, Ipswich and Springfield will be shocked to learn university management is treating staff so poorly,” Prof Lamont-Mills said.

 

“It’s incredibly disappointing management has walked away from direct negotiation when union members just want a fair deal.

 

“UniSQ has rocketed up the global university rankings to be in the top 301-350 in the world. That is 100 per cent down to the hard work of staff.

 

“How does university management repay them? Attacks on conditions and a refusal to constructively negotiate a new enterprise agreement. 

 

“UniSQ management should abandon its unnecessarily aggressive approach and return to the bargaining table with the NTEU.”

 

NTEU National President Dr Alison Barnes said:

 

“The federal government wants all universities to be exemplary employers but UniSQ is proving to be the complete opposite by misusing workplace laws in an attempt to cut conditions,” Dr Barnes said.

 

“Regional employers including universities are the lifeblood of communities. 

 

“That’s what makes it even more galling that UniSQ management is trying to strip entitlements and appeal rights while doing nothing about the explosion in casual work.

 

“The NTEU has successfully stopped similar attempts to ram through substandard wages and conditions by pushing bargaining to conciliation. We will fight this every step of the way.”


Contact details:

Andrea Lamont-Mills 0409 639 148

More from this category

  • Education Training, Employment Relations
  • 17/04/2025
  • 15:53
NTEU

Staff reach breaking point over UTS leaders’ prolonged and severe operational mismanagement

National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) members at University of Technology (UTS) have exposed a litany of serious management failures that are threatening the institution’s fabric. TheAustralian Financial Reviewearlier this week exposedglaring examples of the overwhelming crisis at UTS, reinforcing staff concerns about governance failures. Unaccountable senior university leaders have bungled restructures and major projects, leading to budget blow-outs and soaring workloads. VCAndrew Parfitt has faced disgruntled staff at town halls on multiple occasions to justify these changes. Despite a lack of evidence and logic, he insists the University must cut 400 UTS jobs. In the midst of this turmoil, 2…

  • Education Training, General News
  • 17/04/2025
  • 11:02
Australian National Maritime Museum

Bring the Maritime Museum into the classroom in Term 2 with a host of exciting free virtual excursions

The Australian National Maritime Museum has announced an exciting line up of free virtual excursions for primary school students for Term 2, allowing teachers and students to experience the Museum from the comfort of their classrooms. With topics covered ranging from plastic pollution to Australian migration, Humpback whales and Indigenous history, there are a wide range of opportunities for students to engage with experts from the Museum and beyond through this series of engaging and interactive learning opportunities. These virtual excursions are available to primary school students across Australia and provide students the opportunity to unite with students from across…

  • Contains:
  • Books Literature, Education Training
  • 14/04/2025
  • 13:24
KEAN & Creative

ENCOURAGE SCROLLING MINDS TO TURN MORE PAGES THESE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Reclaiming Balance During the Holidays The school holidays present a crucial opportunity for both parents and educators to encourage balance. With less structured time…

  • Contains:

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.