[Muanet] Sydney Uni head gambles on new pay deal

[Dion Giles]

By Samantha Maiden and Michelle Giglio
The Australian
November 13 2003

Sydney University vice-chancellor Gavin Brown has gambled on a backdown 
over higher education reforms by striking a peace deal with unions, then 
predicting a federal government backflip.

Forecasting federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson would modify his 
demands that universities embrace workplace relations reforms or lose 
$404million in funding, Professor Brown yesterday narrowly avoided strike 
action by staff.

But Dr Nelson last night rejected Professor Brown's claims, telling The 
Australian the vice-chancellor had "the wrong end of the pineapple".

"Obviously, Gavin Brown is personally entitled to say anything he likes but 
where on earth he got that from I have no idea," Dr Nelson said.

"Maybe they've got the wrong end of the pineapple. I have not, nor am I 
intending to announce, any change in position. Someone must be misleading 
him. I haven't spoken to him."

Earlier, Professor Brown announced a deal to deliver an immediate 4.5per 
cent pay increase to Sydney University staff.

In return, unions accepted a no-strike clause and committed to negotiations 
on an enterprise agreement based on the concessions Professor Brown 
forecast Dr Nelson would announce this week.

"This has been made possible by the fact that (Dr Nelson) is expected to 
make a statement this week modifying industrial relations reforms," 
Professor Brown said.

Earlier, a 250-strong meeting of academic and general staff yesterday was 
told Professor Brown had indicated Dr Nelson was poised to release a new 
set of regulations.

"If what Brown's saying is right, we've won, and if he's wrong we will be 
recommending industrial action at our meeting next week," said the 
university's National Tertiary Education Union spokesman, Michael Thomson.

Sydney University went on strike in September after management withdrew an 
enterprise agreement because it did not comply with Dr Nelson's proposed 
reforms.

http://theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,7849647%255E2702,00.html