In search of the vaccine for insecure work

Michael Evans, National Organiser (Media & Engagement)

In the lead-up to finalising the Union’s submission to the Senate Inquiry into Insecure Work, over 170 NTEU members and supporters attended our online seminar entitled ‘Where’s the Vaccine For Insecure Work?’ on 19 March.

The seminar was an opportunity to hear from Labor Senator Tony Sheldon, Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Job Security, and Australian Greens leader Adam Bandt, the Greens’ Workplace Relations spokesperson, about the pressing issues around insecure work and how to confront them. They joined NTEU National President Dr Alison Barnes.

‘Good jobs give you a good economy, not the other way round,’ Senator Sheldon told the seminar. He highlighted how critical the university sector is to the Australian economy, especially during and in the aftermath of COVID-19.

Tony described the evolution of the gig economy as a ‘disruption of decency’ and said that casual workers should have some rights and security within that context, and especially the right to speak out about their situation without their employment being threatened.

Adam Bandt said it was critically important that the billions of dollars stripped out of higher education over the last ten years be restored, and that this is a crucial issue to addressing insecure work in the sector.

He said that the trend over the last 30 to 40 years has been that the element of risk in employment and the economy had been shoved downwards onto workers, hence the steady rise of insecure work. Adam called for the law to be changed so that the legal presumption was that every job is ongoing by default, unless the employer can justify why it shouldn’t be. He also said that the Fair Work Commission (FWC) should have the power to move casual workers to ongoing positions if that is the nature of the work performed. He urged participants to get involved to change the government at the next election, as this was the most realistic way to achieve change around insecure work, and agreed that future funding increases could be potentially tied to improving job security.

Seminar participants on the Zoom screen.

Participants were then divided into several ‘breakout’ groups to highlight the problem of insecure work in higher education and the human impact it is having on staff, by sharing their stories about how insecure work has affected them, and to share their opinions about what needs to change. Participants were also asked to send in a short video, volunteer to appear as witness at the parliamentary inquiry, or discuss their story further. The seminar’s discussion and follow-up will inform the content of our submission, due at the end of March.

Alison Barnes wound up proceedings by referring back to the seminar’s original question – ‘where’s the vaccine for insecure work?’

‘Ultimately the answer to the question is – us, union members working together to use our strength to force change. ‘As the next enterprise bargaining round looms this year, we must focus on building our workplace structures and our delegate networks. We need to grow our workplace strength by asking our friends and colleagues to stand with us and join the Union.

‘We have bargaining claims on a range of measures to confront insecure work, including a claim for paid sick leave for all casual employees. ‘We want to tell the stories of people who experience insecure work, as well as the wider stories of the impacts on the culture and fabric of universities and on society more broadly. ‘Please be a part of this if you can.’

"We want to tell the stories of people who experience insecure work, as well as the wider stories of the impacts on the culture and fabric of universities and on society more broadly.

Participants in one of the breakout groups.