[Muanet] Unis to resume pay talks as pressure eases

[Dion Giles]

By Aban Contractor
Sydney Morning Herald
November 13 2003

The federal Education Minister, Brendan Nelson, is expected to water down 
sweeping workplace relations changes at universities, prompting a reopening 
of pay talks at the University of Sydney.

Other universities are expected to follow, with vice-chancellors saying a 
backdown was imminent. Sydney University's vice-chancellor, Gavin Brown, 
expects negotiations with unions to begin on Monday.

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

Dr Nelson has insisted he would not back down on major elements of his 
blueprint for higher education, including insisting on workplace relations 
changes in exchange for $404 million in funding.

But the four independent senators, whose vote the Government needs to pass 
the legislation, have said they will not vote to force universities to 
implement harsh changes simply to implement Liberal Party ideology.

Senior Government sources told the Herald there would be changes, but their 
scope would depend on the backing of the Prime Minister, John Howard.

"It will depend on who the PM's prepared to throw his weight behind - Tony 
Abbot [the former workplace relations minister] or Brendan Nelson," one 
Liberal MP said.

In September, Sydney University was ready to sign a new three-year pay 
agreement which included a landmark provision for 36 weeks' paid parental 
leave.

But it was shelved after the Government announced workplace relations 
changes beyond those announced in the May budget.

The changes, effective immediately, stripped back entitlements and forced 
universities to offer individual workplace agreements. As well, the 
universities must "neither encourage nor discourage" union membership 
through handing out membership forms during staff inductions.

As well, they must not use federal funds to pay for union salaries, 
facilities or activities.

Last night a spokesman for Dr Nelson said there would be no announcement 
today or tomorrow, adding there had been no change in the minister's position.

Labor's education spokeswoman, Jenny Macklin, said the link between 
universities adopting "the Government's draconian industrial relations 
agenda and $404 million in desperately needed funding" should never have 
been made.

"Labor will continue to pressure the Government to completely drop this 
blatant attempt to blackmail Australian universities into adopting 
industrial relations practices which would do nothing to improve teaching 
or research," she said.

Dr Nelson is discussing other amendments with universities and the 
independent senators - Meg Lees, Len Harris, Shayne Murphy and Brian 
Harradine. He meets the National Tertiary Education Union on November 24, 
the day the legislation is expected to go to the Senate.

Senator Lees has said the legislation should be put on hold until February 
to enable proper debate.

But Senator Harris believes it should be finalised this year. "Unless the 
legislation is suitable to the AVCC [Australian Vice-Chancellors' 
Committee] and other groups then I won't support it," he said.

The committee has been working with Dr Nelson's office to produce 
amendments the Government can live with.

A confidential report by the committee, Guarding the Goalposts, says 
university chiefs were concerned that the legislation, rather than 
implementing the Government's original planned changes, now had the 
potential to intrude into decision-making.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/11/12/1068329635824.html