Delegate Profile: Patrick Hampton, UNDA

I first became a member of the NTEU following a ‘door stop’ conversation with the UNDA Branch Organiser. Having been a member of the State School Teachers’ Union when I worked in WA public schools, I had always intended to join the NTEU when I began in the School of Education in Fremantle but had never had the serious conversation until then.

I later became the NTEU Representative on the campus Workplace Health & Safety (WHS) Committee. NTEU members had played a key role in campaigning on WHS issues at UNDA, including the establishment of the WHS Committee and the development of the WHS Policies and Procedures for the University. Ongoing issues with WHS brought about an ever widening range of conversations about other issues in the workplace and soon after I became the delegate for the School of Education and a member of the UNDA Branch Committee.

Our current situation

Notre Dame faced significant financial challenges in 2020 however staff were informed this was not primarily due to COVID-19 or the income lost to international enrolments. The University management responded quickly with an organisational restructure, establishing a new University Executive and operating structure, which included swift action to achieve significant recurrent salary savings. As is the case with most restructures, the professional and academic staff not responsible for the financial unsustainability of the ‘business’ have borne most of the consequences at UNDA – workplace uncertainty, job losses and diminished work conditions.

Anecdotally, nearly 200 staff have left UNDA due to voluntary redundancy, early retirement, and sadly forced redundancies. Consequently, in 2021 many work areas find they are operating with reduced staff and ‘responsibility creep’ is the new normal where continuing staff are asked to assume additional roles.

Every campaign is an opportunity

It was only following campaigning by the NTEU Branch Committee and the unity of members that University management have implemented processes whereby staff are informed about the decisions impacting their work. True consultation remains elusive – despite existing structures being available for this very purpose. There is now a growing solidarity amongst many UNDA staff as they see so much of the University community dramatically changing.

This solidarity is extending to conversations with other NTEU Branches and it has been great to work with other delegates and NTEU officers to help us to develop suitable action. I would recommend these conversations to any delegate in these difficult times – collectively, there is an incredibly deep understanding of the complex higher education industrial agenda if you aren’t afraid to ask.

Challenges ahead

There has been a fundamental shift in the culture of the staff at UNDA in the last 12 months. I believe we’re yet to reach the nadir in relations between staff and University management with a recent announcement that further cuts to staffing are required. The Branch has a critical role in supporting members through this process at this critical time for the higher education sector. Many of the concerns raised in conversations with staff at UNDA are echoed in the 2020 NTEU State of the Uni Survey.

In addition to campaigning for genuine consultation about workplace change and reducing staffing cuts, our Branch is also working for the fair resourcing of the higher education priorities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students; raising staff superannuation to industry standard; and, addressing alarming rates of staff casualisation.

The NTEU Branch recognises casual staff as some of the most vulnerable in our workplace and has a significant challenge campaigning to support them against exploitation. Participation in the NTEU Bargaining Conference last December was an opportunity for us to see the potential for a UNDA campaign that makes a real difference for staff and students.

Becoming active in the NTEU

Anyone who is not currently active in the NTEU only needs to look at the current higher education sector to gauge where things would be without active members. Now more than ever, the most important thing for all Universities is that there are NTEU members available to have those serious conversations with staff to encourage them and to support them. We have a by-line in our work area …'Stay Informed, Seek Support, Support Others!' because when management stop listening, it’s important that union members keep talking. ◆

Find out more at nteu.org.au/delegates