JCU academics set to protest ahead of 30 proposed job cuts

James Cook University staff will protest on Wednesday to rally against the 30 proposed job cuts to academics at the university.

James Cook University staff will protest on Wednesday to rally against the 30 proposed job cuts to academics at the university.

It comes after members of the National Tertiary Education Union launched a campaign last week urging JCU management to look at other options.

According to the NTEU, James Cook University management proposes to stop programs in creative arts, tourism (in Townsville), planning, conflict resolution and aquatic vertebrate disease research, as well as other “non-aligned” work.

The university has come under consistent scrutiny after a change management proposal last year outlined a sweeping staffing restructure made up of 145 job cuts including the positions of Cairns campus director and the Cairns executive officer from a total university employee base of 1313 workers.

National Tertiary Education Union members protest at the James Cook University Cairns campus in 2018.

Ahead of the protest, union members have warned job cuts won’t achieve financial viability.

NTEU JCU Academic vice president Associate Professor Dr Simon Foale said it hadn’t worked in the past and there was no indication it would work now.

“JCU having a diversity of offerings as a comprehensive university is attractive to students,” Dr Foale said.

“Our own Vice-Chancellor previously said we can’t afford a smaller academic body. We expect the job cuts will exacerbate the long-term decline in student numbers JCU has had.”

In response to the job cuts, Vice Chancellor Professor Simon Biggs said JCU remained committed to being a comprehensive regional university and will retain courses and subjects of importance to its region, while maintaining financial sustainability.

Simon Biggs is the new vice chancellor of James Cook University. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We are addressing our financial challenges, working to grow student numbers, and reduce costs,” Mr Biggs said.

“We are refining our management structures and improving functions and service delivery across JCU.”

Mr Biggs also said the university was looking to “disestablish” some courses or reduce the number of academics teaching that course, while looking to revitalise other areas.

For example, it’s proposed Chemistry (Physical Sciences) and Chemical Engineering (Engineering) be integrated to create a new discipline of Industrial Chemistry, within the Physical Sciences Academic group.

The protest will take place from midday Wednesday on the Cairns and Townsville campuses, on the Library Lawn and Central Plaza respectively.

Originally published as JCU academics set to protest ahead of 30 proposed job cuts