Media release – National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), 20 May 2024
University’s Draconian Cost-Cutting Sparks Outrage: Sacrificing Staff Well-Being for Short-Term Gains
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) has sounded the alarm over the university management’s reckless cost-saving measures. In a move that reeks of short-sightedness, the University management’s proposed ‘strategic vacancy management’ threatens to plunge the institution into a crisis of morale, burnout, and diminished educational quality.
Thinly Veiled Job Cuts
The NTEU is not mincing words. The university’s plan to tighten its belt by not replacing departing staff is nothing more than slashing jobs by covert means. While there has been financial strain caused by a 10% reduction in student numbers, there has been mismanagement through a poorly thought out and executed move to the Hobart CBD, the purchase of overpriced CBD properties and significant cost overruns on the Forestry Building refurbishment.
This solution has been put in place by a University Council that is stacked with business people but short on people who know how to run a university. The solution to this mismanagement should not be at the expense of our hardworking academics and professional staff.
Work Intensification and Burnout
The proposed measures will force remaining employees to shoulder the burden of unfilled positions, leading to increased workloads and potential burnout for staff and bigger classes and less subject choice for students.
Dr. Ruth Barton, NTEU Tasmanian Division Secretary, minced no words: “This approach is short-sighted and fails to consider the long-term impact on staff morale and turnover and the quality of education provided to students. It makes the University descend into even more chaos.” Assigning another person’s job to another employee rather than replacing the vacancy is doing nothing for productivity or efficiency.
Invest in People, Not Austerity
The NTEU calls on university management to prioritise skilled staff retention and foster a healthy work environment. Cutting jobs through attrition and the consequent work intensification is a myopic strategy. Instead, the University must invest in its most valuable asset: its people. Only then can it secure long-term success and viability.
