ACT workload tracking survey gathers evidence of unsafe practices

Monique Blasiak, ACT Division Organiser

NTEU ACT Division has just wrapped up a workload tracking survey at the University of Canberra (UC) and University of Canberra College (UCC).

We know that workloads are an issue across UC and UCC and this campaign was undertaken to collect evidence that staff are working beyond the hours that are outlined in the Enterprise Agreement. This data will be used to stand up for safe and fair workloads for UC and UCC staff in the next round of enterprise bargaining in 2022.

We know that unsafe workloads are an issue across the entire sector. We also know that is in the best interests of university managements to turn a blind eye to this issue, and to dismiss feedback about unsafe workloads as highly anecdotal or as an issue that only affects those 'who can’t hack it'. However, we know that cases of unsafe workloads and inconsistent approaches to overtime are widespread issues.

Our members decided to tackle the issue of workloads head on, in preparation for bargaining in 2022.

The goal of the campaign was to engage members and potential members on this issue, increase Delegates’ activism in this process, and to gather evidence about unsafe workloads.

The campaign tracked real hours worked for two separate weeks in Semester 2, 2021. Two separate weeks in different times of the semester were chosen in order to account for the cyclical nature of university work and to get a broader range of data. It utilised the NTEU’s timekeeping website, TimedOut.

TimedOut is a tool for us to collect evidence that may demonstrate unfair working conditions, such as unfair workloads or underpayment.

The campaign had nearly 100 people sign up to track their real hours worked and collected thousands of hours worth of data which are currently in the process of being de-identified and analysed. These results will soon be shared with members and the findings will be used to help build our bargaining campaign.

If we want to address this issue of workloads, it is essential that university managements are forced to confront the reality of what their staff are actually undertaking to get the job done. This is why data collection, followed up with a highly visible campaign for bargaining, is important. Our members are ready to take a stand on workloads, with the facts to back them up. ◆

Monique Blasiak, ACT Division Organiser