RMIT to pay $10m in unpaid wages to casual academics in dispute dating back to 2014

Almost 4000 RMIT University employees will be backpaid a total of $10 million following a wage dispute with the tertiary education union.

RMIT is the latest university forced to make backpay to casual staff.

Almost 4000 RMIT University employees will be backpaid a total of $10 million following a wage dispute with the tertiary education union.

The pay claims date back as far as July 2014 with some casual staff owed up to $10,000 including interest and lost super.

The National Tertiary Education Union’s RMIT branch raised the issue of underpayments in August because academic staff were paid the wrong rate for the marking of assignments and examination papers. The shortfall was as much as $20 an hour.

Belinda Grant has worked as a casual in the School of Architecture and Design for seven years and was furious when I found out what was happening.

“I was so angry that I felt I had to do something,’’ she said.

Ms Grant said casuals were reluctant to speak up because of the insecure nature of their work.

NTEU Victoria assistant secretary Sarah Roberts said the university deserved no praise for simply agreeing to pay its workers.

“If it weren’t for the NTEU members who fought RMIT tooth and nail for this outcome, it is unlikely casual staff would have seen one cent in backpay from the university,’’ Ms Roberts said.

RMIT University will have pay $10m in wages.

“Wage theft has deep human consequences, depriving modestly paid casual workers of the income to pay bills, plan for their future or take leave.’’

RMIT interim vice-chancellor Dionne Higgins said the university took its enterprise agreements obligations “very seriously’’ and would ensure employees received their full entitlements.

“RMIT greatly values the contribution our casual employees make, and we apologise unreservedly to any who may have felt undervalued, and for any confusion or distress they may have experienced in regard to this matter,” Ms Higgins said.

RMIT is the latest university forced to stump up for backpayments.

In September, Melbourne University paid back $10 million to 1000 casual staff, prompting an apology from vice-chancellor Duncan Maskell.

In the same month, Monash paid $8.6 million in unpaid wages to casual staff dating back to 2014.

La Trobe is also conducting an internal investigation into underpayments when it identified problems during an audit.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has confirmed it is still investigating all four universities.