Hundreds of pandemic redundancies halted at Deakin University

THE Fair Work Commission has stopped Deakin University’s plans to cut hundreds of jobs in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The commission recently issued an interim order stopping Deakin from moving ahead with a series of workplace changes, including its proposal to make 400 positions redundant.

The pause will remain until a dispute between the National

Tertiary Education Union and Deakin is resolved.

The NTEU is questioning whether Deakin was required to consult with staff at a university-wide level before deciding to proceed down the path of large-scale targeted redundancies.

Deakin NTEU branch president Kerrie Saville said the move enabled the dispute to be heard and determined without the university preempting the final outcome.

“This order provides the opportunity to resolve the dispute between the two parties before a decision is made,” she said. “We very much believe that Deakin has failed to consult with staff at an appropriate level over its initial proposal to save money by cutting hundreds of jobs.”

Deakin University vicechancellor Iain Martin put forward a proposal in May to slash 400 positions from its campuses due to the financial hit from the coronavirus. The university estimates its operating revenue will fall by $250 million to $300 million next year as a result of COVID-19.

More than 50 per cent of Deakin’s total revenue goes towards staff salaries.

Ms Saville said staff were “disappointed and frustrated” that the university tabled mass redundancies, rather than consulting its staff on ways to mitigate such large job losses.

“Staff feel let down by the university’s failure to talk to them about ways to save jobs like other universities have done,” she said. “Deakin went straight to hundreds of targeted redundancies as a first response without talking to their staff first.

“If the university had followed the proper process as we believe should’ve happened, we would’ve had more certainty about what is going to happen by now.”

FWC commissioner Michelle Bissett said she was “satisfied” that it was arguable that the redundancies were a university-wide formal proposal open to consultation requirements at the university level.

“The interim relief is a step taken to ensure that the position of the parties is not prejudiced while final relief is determined,” she said. “Should the NTEU be successful at final relief, the university will have to recommence the consultation process at the university-wide level.”

Deakin opposed the granting of the interim order.

A directions hearing is set to be held on Tuesday.