Some uni staff settle pay claim
Staff at three universities have settled their pay dispute, with some workers securing a pay hike of up to 17.9%.
Tertiary Education Union (TEU) members at University of Otago, University of Canterbury and Victoria University of Wellington voted to ratify new collective agreements.
Strike action is ongoing at University of Auckland, while staff are still negotiating at Massey University, Waikato University, Lincoln University and Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
Thousands of university workers across the country walked off the job in October after negotiations stalled. Union members were asking for an 8% pay rise.
After months of negotiating and campaigning some general (non-academic) staff at University of Canterbury (UC) will receive ‘‘pay increases between 10.1% and 17.9% over the term of the agreement’’, said Gabrielle Moore, TEU organiser at UC.
Sandra Grey, TEU national secretary, said ‘‘these outcomes do not signal that the pressure is now off vice chancellors or the government’’.
‘‘These deals have delivered some positive outcomes and 7000 of our members at the eight universities deserve all the credit for that because this wouldn’t have been possible without the brave stand they have and are continuing to make,’’ she said.
The settlements still left most academic staff at Otago, Victoria and Canterbury universities behind what they deserved and there were still five universities that had not reached settlements, she said.
‘‘Strike action is ongoing at University of Auckland and for them, along with Massey University, Waikato University, Lincoln University and AUT, negotiations are likely to continue into the new year with the possibility of further strikes remaining firmly on the table.’’