LATEST NEWS:

State Electorate Profile: Brunswick

Abbey Saxon gives you the political rundown on Melbourne's most (in)famous inner-northern suburb.

Why the Left Sucks: An Inquiry into Campus’s Most Hated Political Group

It is no exaggeration to say that The University of Melbourne is one of the largest breeding grounds for leftist thought in the country. For those of us who have been on campus–walked past the columns

The Aesthetics of Poverty – Why students at UniMelb are so keen to appear poor.

The discourse accusing this so-called ‘student aesthetic’ of fetishising poorness has surfaced within the past year on social media (especially TikTok) and in conversations between students on and off

Satire: Farrago Shuts Down; Honi Soit Now Australia's Oldest Student Publication

As of today, Farrago Magazine, Australia’s oldest student publication, will cease operations under the current four editors.

VCA Students Demand UniMelb to Commit to “Zero Tolerance” Policy

Students at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) are calling on the University of Melbourne to “commit to stronger policies and actions when it comes to sexual assault”, after the University ignore

 

News Article

University of Melbourne agrees to reimburse underpaid staff

<p>After two years of unionised campaigning, the University of Melbourne has agreed to reimburse underpaid staff before Christmas. The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) has claimed responsibility for this win, estimating that the University will need $6 million to repay staff. However, with more than 2000 staff members affected, the union has also stated that [&hellip;]</p>

News

After two years of unionised campaigning, the University of Melbourne has agreed to reimburse underpaid staff before Christmas.

The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) has claimed responsibility for this win, estimating that the University will need $6 million to repay staff. However, with more than 2000 staff members affected, the union has also stated that up to $15 million could be paid if each worker comes forward.

The University had previously agreed to repay underpaid workers after a dispute with the NTEU over the rate of repayment at the end of last year. However, payouts to casual Arts faculty tutors stalled with the University proposing to use its own formula to calculate back pay.

The University has since then agreed to pay each claim in full, with a University of Melbourne spokesperson stating that “the University and union have been engaged in resolving differing views about the property method for assessing back pay claims.

Moreover, the University “is pleased to have settled the dispute … and [remains] on track to ensure the casuals receive their back pay owed before Christmas”.

This pivot in the University follows a staff and student-led protest outside Vice Chancellor Duncan Maskell’s home on November 27.

Maskell’s home, Cumnock House, is a $7.1 million mansion owned by the University in Parkville. It was NTEU’s intention to highlight the hypocrisy of the University’s affluent leaders and its underpayment of staff.

“[The University’s] brand is its Achilles heel and its reputation was in danger,” said NTEU member Nathan Gardener. “It was showering its executives in riches and leaving us in dirt.”

“By showing up in person and in numbers out in front of the Vice Chancellor’s house it was revealing the University’s conceitedness in itself and its contempt for us,” they said.  

A top HR official from the University had labelled the protest as “coercion” of the VC however, no statement has been made about whether the protest swayed the University in its decision.

NTEU Victorian Assistant Secretary Sarah Roberts said she was happy the fight over wage theft was over, believing the win to be a significant step to ensuring proper payment across tertiary education.

“We’re very confident it’s all been settled,” she said.

“It will certainly help and the moral force of the argument is really getting traction.”

The NTEU encourages any tutor who worked unpaid hours, from marking assignments or attending lectures or student consultations, from 2013-19 to contact the union and make a claim.

 

[Image credit: University of Melbourne]

 
Farrago's magazine cover - Edition One 2023

EDITION ONE 'RENAISSANCE' AVAILABLE NOW!

Our debut print edition of 2023 is here! Join us as we discover, explore and challenge the notion of rebirth and reawakening with Renaissance.

Read online