The Deakin NTEU is balloting for a Protected Action Ballot Order. This is the first step on the road to taking protected industrial action.
We are taking this action because Univeristy Management has said “no” to all our major claims. They’ve offered:
- An inadequate salary increase of 2.85% per year
- Nothing of any meaning to reduce casual employment
- Token effort to improve academic workloads (in fact, management has proposed increasing weekly hours!)
- Stripped WFH arrangements for prfoessional staff to pre-pandemic arrangements
University management continues to provide misleading information in their communications to members. For instance, while they claim that they have converted hundreds of casual staff to ongoing roles, they have not provided data that distinguishes these conversions into professional and academic categories. We suspect this would tell a very different story …
How Does it Work?
Voting is conducted electronically, via email, and opens on Tuesday 28 March at 9.00am and closes at 4.00pm on Tuesday 4 April.
You will be asked to vote yes or no to eight questions. Each question corresponds to a different form of industrial action. Voting in the ballot is not a vote to take the actions, it’s a vote to give members at Deakin the right to take them later in trimester if they decide to.
We’re asking people to vote as soon as you can after receiving the email and to vote yes to all questions.
Why should you Vote “Yes” in the Protected Action Ballot?
The Protected Action Ballot opens on 28 March and close on 4 April.
50% of members MUST vote for the ballot to be valid.
Importantly, you are voting to give your fellow union members the right to take industrial action. Voting “Yes” does not mean you have to take those actions.
If you have any questions or concerns about the ballot please do not hesitate to get in touch at deakin@nteu.org.au. Please talk to your colleagues about the ballot, and share this page with them. If they’re not union, ask them to join! Remember, together we bargain, divided we beg.
Why Should You Take Industrial Action?
As outlined in the Geelong Advertiser our decision to take Industrial actions follows months of negotiations with management.
They have said “no” to all our claims, and show little interest in reconsidering their position.
Freqently Asked Questions
Members and non-members have some common questions about PABOs and industrial action. We’ve answered them below but email deakin@nteu.org.au if you are still unsure about something
What is industrial action?
What is protected industrial action?
Before union members at Deakin can take industrial action and be protected, there must first be a ballot of all members working at the University – a Protected Action Ballot.
What is a Protected Action Ballot?
50 per cent of members at Deakin must vote and more than 50 per cent must approve the actions for members to have the right to take them.
Why are we balloting now?
So far, management is saying no to almost every claim we have put on the table: improved workloads, a fair pay rise, and a commitment to decasualise the workforce.
At a union meeting in February, members voted to apply for a Protected Action Ballot.
How does the ballot work?
Members should be encouraged to vote as soon as they can after receiving their ballot, to vote yes to all questions, and submit.