CDU needs to fix a travesty, writes DARIUS PFITZNER

WITH the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor, CDU once again enters an era of uncertainty, potential re-envisioning and disruptive change.

This is of great concern to the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) that has fought to maintain and improve the working conditions at CDU and will continue to do so.

Relative to the Vice-Chancellor resigning, as a new grandfather myself I understand Simon’s desire to spend more time with his family and I wish him all the best for the future.

So how do we move forward?

Before we can look to the future, we must review and acknowledge the past.

In doing so, the NTEU notes that over the past seven years there has been what it would describe as a number of ineptly managed false starts, poor and costly investments, unacceptable increases in executive positions and salaries, badly planned and researched changes, unwarranted loss of hundreds of staff, arrogant and disrespectful transfer of Territory jobs to Queensland and NSW and an appalling treatment of staff during change management. This and more has happened under what can only be described as very stressful working conditions brought about by mismanagement at CDU.

Unfortunately, this mismanagement seems to be ongoing. For example the NTEU is challenging CDU to stop issuing short-term contracts to hardworking Territorians for work that might only be described, by any reasonable person, as fulltime continuing work related to CDU’s core business, and that is the teaching VET courses in the NT.

This is an unacceptable situation that the NTEU has put CDU on notice over and will fight using all available avenues.

The NTEU would, however, stress that it does NOT think all CDU management is bad or doing the wrong thing.

In fact, the NTEU believes it is quite the opposite situation. Most CDU managers are locals who call the Territory home and who are working hard to support staff and the delivery of quality education to Territorians.

Unfortunately, as we so often see, the good work of the many can be undone by the few.

For example, the NTEU is aware of local CDU managers trying to treat their staff with respect and correct the shortterm contract issues in their local group.

However, these efforts have been blocked by what might be described as an overpaid faceless executive group that does not seem to be accountable to anyone or have an understanding of good contemporary human resource management.

Indeed, it seems unfair and counter-productive to issue these short-term contracts (some fewer than six months’ duration) to hardworking staff of CDU who are Territorians who have been doing the same or similar work for many years. The NTEU wants to see this travesty stopped and calls on CDU management to fix this situation as a matter of urgency and out of respect to the staff of CDU and the people of the Territory.