Volume 6, Number 2, February 2014

Branch President Jack Speaks… Today I was able to park my bike in the secured area behind the C lecture block for the first time in just over 3 years. I’ve missed that stall and it made me smile to chain my belongings to it.

There are some good things happening around here. I’m glad to see them and try to not overlook them. TEU and its members on campus are a big part of that for me. I’ll be smiling wryly with you in coming months as we endure the disruption of construction and repair for another year. I often take my humour black (but dunk a cookie in it when I can).

The Branch has been busy in past months. Our stellar organisers continue to bear the real load. Their specialist negotiating and advising skills are unfortunately in great demand. We will have more pain in the coming years. They help to make that pain less than it might otherwise be.

I want to also have a special call out to long serving Tim O’Sullivan who was recognised for his tireless support of colleagues and workplace with a TEU Meritorious Service Award. Tim has helped the Branch through some tough times and the award is not enough to express our gratitude. But it is better than nothing!

As always, if you’d like to get involved in a special issue of relevance to the TEU or Branch, please let us know. We’ll be hard at recruiting new members again this year. Bring any new colleagues to the Union and they go in a draw for both a national and local prize. And when you get the chance, visit Academic Freedom Aotearoa.

AGM The Canterbury Branch AGM will be held on

Wednesday 16th April 2014 12.00 noon to 2.00 pm

Undercroft 101, James Hight

Speakers scheduled (awaiting confirmation) include:

Associate Professor John Freeman-Moir, who teaches and researches in the philosophy and sociology of education, and in utopian social theory at the College of Education;

and actor and activist Robyn Malcolm, who will speak about the Warner Brothers/Peter Jackson debacle.

Branch Meetings Canterbury Branch Committee meetings this semester will be held at 12 noon on the Thursdays of:

• 6th March • 20th March • 3rd April • 2nd May • 15th May • 29th May • 12th June • 26th June

Learning Resources: Library Change Proposal The proposal is for the restructuring of Library Management, following the ‘Janine Schmidt’ review of and report about the Library. The positive thing is that it reinstates the position of University Librarian, the current lack of which has left us without voice or leadership.

The Library Research and Information Services (LRIS) and Library Support Services (LSS) Change Proposal is a proposed restructure of the Library’s management positions. This includes the re-merging of the two parts of the library (LRIS and LSS) into one, the disestablishment of 5 positions, two of which are currently vacant and the creation of 6 new positions including a University Librarian (a position which the Library had until Project Star). Part way through the consultation period, some ‘new thinking’ around one of the proposed positions was issued along with a new proposed PD.

Submissions will have closed on Sunday 2nd March. The TEU is still waiting for information on how the new positions will be funded as staff have been told there will be no additional funding.

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Lee Cooper, Te Pou Tuarā Extracts from Lee’s Report to

TEU Council Te Kotahi Mano – te uepū membership, as at 30

September 2013, showed that te uepū membership increased to 879 or 8.6% of all TEU members (up 0.5% from September 2012). Hui-ā-Motu will again have a specific workshop on recruitment with the aim of achieving 1000 te uepū members by September 2014

Survey of te uepū members – the draft report of the survey will be presented to Te Toi Ahurangi at its first meeting on 14 February and subsequent recommendations will go to Council on 21 February

Te reo Māori policy – Te Toi Ahurangi will receive the

latest draft of the policy this week, amend it, and prepare to present it to Hui-ā-Motu in March for endorsement

Political panel – is scheduled for Hui-ā-Motu and confirmed MPs include David Clendon (Greens), Hōne Harawira (MANA), and Te Ururoa Flavell (Māori)

Academic Freedom Aotearoa (AFA) The Branch would again like to alert all members to the group called Academic Freedom Aotearoa (AFA). This group is facilitated by the TEU but membership is open to anyone, staff and students, who fulfil a critic and conscience role and thus require academic freedom.

Membership in AFA is free. Just register online here: http://academicfreedom.kiwi.nz/contact-us/join-us/

The group runs a peer-reviewed blog. Make a submission or post a comment below the existing blogs here: http://academicfreedom.kiwi.nz/category/blog/

AFA is active in making submissions to government. You can see those submissions here: http://academicfreedom.kiwi.nz/category/submission/

Do YOU have a critic and conscience role? Most probably you do if all or part of your job involves activities that are special to the University's mission which is defined by the Education Act. If you are involved in study (all students have academic freedom), research or teaching, for example, then you enjoy the provision, but also bear the responsibilities of, academic freedom. If you exercise the role, you need to do so responsibly and legally. AFA can help you learn to be a better and safer critic and conscience of society.

Consultation on Workload, College of Education

Current Members of the TEU Workload Group have been meeting in an effort to try and resolve concerns with the proposed workload model.

The TEU are represented by Benita Rarere-Briggs, Jane McChesney, Lawrence Walker, Sue McBain, Kerry Purdue and with support from TEU Organiser Gaby Moore (and Paul Corliss).

A very summarised version of the key issues include:

Professional Practice/Practicum visiting: TEU has consistently argued that PP should be considered as supervision. We want course coordination time built into Service for every course coordinated in order to account for the responsibilities and time required

Additional duties for Māori staff: the work involved in additional duties including the responsibilities of Noho Marae is inadequate

Postgraduate Issues: the removal of supervision hours from Teaching to Research to be accounted for in the Service component

High workloads of Senior Tutors and lack of recognition in workload for research and related matters

Proposed Meeting for staff about these and other workload issues The TEU Working Group aims to organise a meeting for members to report back.

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Launched at the union’s annual conference, Te Kaupapa Whaioranga – the Blueprint for Tertiary Education outlines a series of steps New Zealand needs to take to rebuild its public universities, polytechnics and wānanga.

Access and download a copy at: teu.ac.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/TKW.pdf

(Sung to the tune of our National Anthem – 10 Guitars)

John Key has a band of thugs and all they do is screw you and me

They come from banks and brokerage firms, divorced from reality

Beneath the bottom line, workers struggle to survive

Yet somehow all the rich folk they all manage to still thrive

CHORUS

So, fight back, fight back, fight back against the blue tide

And very soon you’ll be joining up with the TEU

You’ll climb on board and help reduce the rich/poor divide

When you fight back, kick back, hit back at the right wing tide

Tertiary education is made for all, each and every one

No matter what your colour, race or creed, we’re all under the same sun

And if we join together, Tū Kotahi - Tū Kaha

So let’s unite across this land, Aotearoa is our home…

Grand TEU Karaoke Challenge

The Canterbury TEU reps who attended the recent National Conference found time in the late evening socialising to compete in the coveted Grand TEU Karaoke Challenge against other branches. Our Ilam and Dovedale Nightingales swept the floor (and a close run Lincoln University group) with their melodic and adapted rendition of 10 Guitars. A few words at right will you give you an idea of the text but not the quality of the radical musicianship.

Part of the Canterbury contingent at Conference with very national-party blue decorations. L to R: Carolyn Mason, Women’s Officer; Lynsey Talagi, Pasifika rep; Benita Rarere-Briggs, Committee; Liz Brown, Maori General staff rep; Jack Heinemann, President; Grant Bush, Committee.

Conference

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Changes to University Councils harm Academic Freedom

Who governs our universities is of crucial importance to all New Zealanders, because it affects the ability of academics to speak up on controversial issues, says Academic Freedom Aotearoa. The government plans to cut the size of university and wānanga councils, making them more like corporate boards. Academic Freedom Aotearoa co-chairs Dr Sandra Grey and Professor Jack Heinemann say the government changes do not provide enough separation between universities and government, as the minister could appoint many of the council members.

“Currently there are elected staff, student, and community representatives on university and wānanga councils. These people ensure a university meets its crucial public good role. They ensure that our public tertiary education institutions contribute to democratic debates.”

Professor Heinemann points out that “there are different kinds of institutions in the tertiary sector and they have varying portfolios. These proposed changes treat each institution as if they all had only a few portfolios and the same obligations to the taxpayer. They do not.”

In “common cause” New Zealand’s eight vice-chancellors have also come out swinging against the government’s plans to remove the democratically elected staff, student and local community representatives from university councils this week. Universities NZ, the peak body representing all eight vice-chancellors, said the proposed law changes are not based on evidence, and are not consistent with international best practice. Universities NZ chairperson Roy Crawford says that the planned changes also show a fundamental misunderstanding of the distinct role that universities play in societies.

“Moves to increase the proportion of ministerial appointees and the control that government has over university councils will be a backwards step for New Zealand.”

Reminder re Annual Leave advice: TEU Members of General Staff, Cleaners, Trades…

Most of you will be aware of the ongoing University programme of reducing employee balances of outstanding annual leave as well as “encouraging” the earliest applications of current leave to be taken over the following 12 months – known as an annual leave plan. All this in an effort to reduce the employers’ associated financial liabilities. In an earlier message to members we advised that the TEU has no objections in principle, provided the process does not impinge on members’ contractual or legislative entitlements/obligations.

In so far as the “Annual Leave Plan” is concerned, the purpose and requirement to do this has sometimes been conveyed wrongly to members and understandably created some upset and angst. The intention is to at least provide “an indication” that the employee intends to utilise their current annual leave in the following 12 months. It does not mean that the indicated dates are cast in concrete.

Following a request for clarity from the TEU, Senior HR Adviser Michel Fivet reinforces our understanding of how this is expected to work from the UofC perspective: “Considering the strong focus on the reduction of annual leave liability I would advise all staff to fill out annual leave plans, however I can assure you that there is going to be genuine flexibility to change submitted leave plans provided it doesn’t impact on the operational requirements. Our main focus is to make sure people take their leave entitlement during the year. “

The employer (when dealing with current leave) is required to try and accommodate your wishes where possible. It should generally be acceptable to them even if the dates were marked as ‘tentative’ and formalised after. Or on the understanding that the dates could be changed if arrangements changed after they had been initially lodged. A refusal to accept a change should be the exception and based on clear and genuine reasons.

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Polytechs and Private Providers Update

CPIT are into pre-bargaining meetings and claims – yet again – following a one year agreement in 2013. The TEU claim this year will be for a longer term and an attempt at achieving equity/parity with academic colleagues on another academic collective. A major review of English language and associated Foundation Courses is well into the consultation phase with an outcome expected by 7 March.

Tai Poutini Polytechnic and Nelson Marlborough Institute branches are now going into rebuild phases with the departure of the two Branch Presidents at each site. TPP is looking very closely at its programme offerings this year because of low enrolments which has already had an effect on membership numbers. One member has sought voluntary severance because of legal, ethical and moral dilemmas being faced when he was directed to assess international students at a higher level than which the programme was offered and for which they have accreditation.

Phil Dodds continues to liaise with members in a range of private training providers. They face many different issues than public institutions – lower salaries and poorer terms and conditions of work being the main ones that we continually battle.

TEU is now in the preparation stages to renew the collective at the local PTE - Design and Arts College NZ. This group of members have endured many changes of campuses through the last 3 years which has been considerably disruptive to the membership base

Join the TEU, get the benefits of the most-respected tertiary education union, and Fly Away to a Holiday in Paradise

Those who join the TEU between 1 January and 31 March 2014 will go into a draw to win a two night Great Mystery Break for two from Air New Zealand. The prize includes return airfares to a NZ mystery destination, 2 nights twin share accommodation and transfer to and from airport to destination.

So please, let your non-Union friends know about the draw. Joining is easy. Just send them this link: http://teu.ac.nz/join/

You can find out more details, and download a flyer at http://teu.ac.nz/2014/02/airnz-mystery-break/

Of course, you already know that the real prize is being part of the Union!

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Bridging Programmes With the impact of Navitas’s involvement and the planned introduction of UC Pathways there have been times of turmoil for our teaching members within Foundation Studies and CUP. While we are still waiting for some requested data, UC point towards downward trends in EFTS and financial returns as the motivation for what is a radical change to current operations. Members have been cooperative in trying to accommodate savings, signing off on a memorandum that temporarily varied their hours of work in an effort to ‘keep the wolf from the door’ – in the interim at least. However, the status quo of their redundancy entitlements was protected by the memorandum. Consultation on workload formula changes is still ongoing.

TEU members at UCOL plan to take strike action on 4 March unless their employer makes progress towards giving them a pay rise. “We don’t want to go on strike. We want to be there for our students. We’ve tried to put this off as long as possible so UCOL can do the right thing,” says TEU branch president Tina Smith.

Since 2010 pay for UCOL staff has shrunk in real terms, compared to inflation. Smith says the next 13 days are a countdown for UCOL to prove it is a good local employer, which gives pay rises. “UCOL has good staff, giving local people the skills they need for local jobs. We deserve fair pay.”

Negotiations between the polytechnic and union members began months ago but the polytechnic still has not offered a pay rise, or even agreed to talk about a pay rise. Staff members had previously tried actions that did not affect students, such as picketing during a speech by the chief executive and all wearing red clothes to work, to no avail. Yesterday, the union’s local committee voted to go on strike, but they have decided to leave the strike as long as possible, to give the polytechnic time to change its mind.

School of Fine Arts Review The downward spiral triggered by declining student enrolments and the process of dealing with the outcomes of the College of Arts ‘Ad Hoc Review ‘and subsequent recommendations and consultation are heading towards the end-game stage. The immediate potential impact is detrimental to staffing and students with Printmaking enrolments already suspended into the future. Photography also appears likely to be one of the victims and TEU is actively involved in supporting members in both disciplines, in addition to developing submissions in support. The outcomes and potential for legal challenges should be clearer in the next few weeks. Your moral and collegial support for affected members in these areas is encouraged.

Contact your organisers

University of Canterbury CPIT and ITP Sector UC TEU Branch Officers

President Secretary/Treasurer Regional Administrator/Office Jack Heinemann Tim O’Sullivan Madison Walker Biological Sciences Central Library Lending Services Extension 4150 Extension 6926 Extension 8826 Madison.walker@teu.ac.nz

Gabrielle Moore 021 190 2396 Extension 6485 gabrielle.moore@teu.ac.nz

Paul Corliss 021 859129 Extension 6288 paul.corliss@teu.ac.nz

Phil Dodds 027 44 99 422 Extension 6768 phil.dodds@teu.ac.nz

Archiving the chaos that we call ‘records’ Casandra Pierce and Dayna Kosega from our national office administration staff and local TEU toiler Madison Walker sit nearly buried in the paperwork that needs to find a home after it has been collated, grouped, filed, and labelled for future access.