Staff cuts at the University of Southern Queensland will devastate research and learning, the NTEU has warned.
The cuts will eliminate 150 full-time equivalent positions, approximately 10% of the university's workforce. The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) strongly condemns these cuts and is calling for their immediate reversal.
This reduction comes on top of 109 positions already lost last year, continuing a troubling pattern of deterioration in working conditions and educational quality at the institution.
"These cuts are an unprecedented attack on the university's capacity to deliver quality education and research," said Professor Andrea Lamont-Mills, NTEU USQ Branch President.
"Coming on top of 109 positions already lost last year, these additional cuts will devastate the university's research capabilities and teaching standards that regional communities rely on."
The restructuring plan includes:
150 full-time equivalent positions to be eliminated (10% of workforce)
Reduction in the number of Schools from 12 to 8
Threat of forced redundancies if voluntary targets aren't met
Voluntary redundancies to be finalised before the end of the financial year
Alarmingly, when staff accessed the university's redundancy calculator, they were able to view which other employees had previously used the calculator for a short period of time.
"This is deeply embarrassing but it's also potentially a serious violation of staff privacy rights," Professor Lamont-Mills said. "It underscores the mismanagement and carelessness with which this entire restructuring process is being handled."
Further raising public interest concerns, the appointment of the Acting Vice-Chancellor to the Vice-Chancellor position has created a governance controversy. The Acting Vice-Chancellor was appointed to the VC position pending a search for a permanent VC. The process by which this appointment was made has not been made clear to staff. Staff have also not been informed of this change.
"We are deeply concerned that another non-transparent appointment process may be underway to permanently install the current acting VC, bypassing proper governance protocols that should be expected at a public institution," said Professor Lamont-Mills. "The public deserves better"
"You cannot cut 10% of your workforce on top of previous reductions and expect to maintain quality research and teaching. The university's capacity to produce world-class research and deliver high-quality education will be severely compromised," Professor Lamont-Mills added.
The NTEU calls on the university to immediately reverse the damaging cuts, genuinely consult with staff and their union, and provide full transparency around financial justifications for these decisions.
