‘Overworked, underpaid’: QUT staff set to launch strike action

QUT staff are set to join counterparts at University of Queensland and Griffith University in taking industrial action, claiming they are overworked and underpaid.

Queensland University of Technology staff claim they are overworked and underpaid and are set to walk off the job in the latest controversy to hit the embattled institution.

National Tertiary Education Union members at QUT have voted to take industrial action in a bid to secure better pay, improved job security and management workloads.

Union state secretary Michael McNally said it had been engaged in enterprise bargaining with QUT for a year in the hope of improving teaching conditions and student outcomes.

The QUT staff join counterparts at University of Queensland and Griffith University set to take industrial action in coming weeks.

The looming strike is the latest controversy to rock QUT following an exodus of medical staff from its Garden City campus, bullying allegations from an ex-staff member and “toxic culture” complaints made 18 months ago.

A QUT spokeswoman said negotiations were continuing and that it hoped the impact on students would be minimal.

Mr McNally said the staff were fighting for a 15 per cent pay rise, a cap on workloads and less overtime.

Queensland University of Technology staff say they are overworked and underpaid. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

He pointed to figures from QUT’s 2021 annual report which showed it had an operating surplus of $139m.

“These are eye-watering profits and it’s time staff got a fair share for their labour,” Mr McNally said.

“Staff are crying out for a real pay rise because inflation is eating away at their wages.

“The last time at QUT is was when members took industrial action that management moved on key claims and we got a good deal at QUT, so there’s no reason it can’t happen this time.”

Mr McNally said UQ members were set to strike on Wednesday while QUT and Griffith members “would not be far behind”.

QUT Student Guild president Oscar Davison said it supported the staff strike.

Mr Davison said the guild had previously complained about several recurring issues including: marking delays, little one-on-one time with teachers, recycled online materials and reductions of classes due to staffing issues.

QUT student guild president Oscar Davison. Picture: Supplied

Mr Davison further accused the university of prioritising “profit and growth” over its students.

“Staff are increasingly overexploited by universities, and students feel the hurt from these decisions,” Mr Davison said.

The looming action sparked fears that there could be delays in students receiving results, but Mr McNally said the union would work closely with the guild to ensure the action had as little an impact on students as possible.

“We have shown at other universities that staff and students get results when they work together – like at UQ … well over 100 students came there in support of our members, a really positive message to send to staff and a strong message to management,” Mr McNally said.

A QUT spokeswoman said negotiations around a new staff enterprise agreement were ongoing.

“QUT, along with the majority of Australian universities, is in the midst of negotiating a new enterprise agreement with our staff and their representatives with a view to achieving a fair outcome in the best interests of our students and staff,” the spokeswoman said.

“We respect the right of those staff who are members of the union to undertake protected industrial action as part of that process and we hope that if they choose to do so that the impact on students will be minimised.”