Plea for law fix following UTAS pay theft

The University of Tasmania’s underpayment of staff highlights the need for wage theft laws in the state, the peak union body says. LATEST >>

THE University of Tasmania’s underpayment of staff highlights the need for wage theft laws in the state, the peak union body says.

UTAS has apologised for the underpayments and promised staff be will paid outstanding amounts owing, with interest.

Unions Tasmania secretary Jessica Munday said other states including Victoria, Queensland, the ACT, and Western Australia have already moved on wage theft.

“UTAS join the long and dishonourable list of Tasmanian employers who have engaged in wage theft,” Ms Munday said.

“Unfortunately, just last year the Morrison Government abandoned proposals to criminalise wage theft when they couldn’t get all anti-worker elements of their IR Omnibus Bill through which just leaves workers open to ongoing wage theft.

“We urge UTAS to work with the union to make sure staff get back every penny and that this doesn’t happen again.”

Unions Tasmania secretary Jessica Munday. Picture Chris Kidd

National Tertiary Education Union secretary Pat McConville said members had been in touch to “express their anger and scepticism at the UTAS apology”.

“Some have raised issues that fall outside what UTAS have identified including people undertaking teaching work but not being paid academic rates, not being paid for compulsory training and work meetings, and academics being paid based on how many words they mark rather than the time taken to do the work.

“We’re concerned that these kinds of issues won’t show up on a central payroll review because they are managed at a different level.”

Former Professor of History and chair of Save UTAS Campus, Pam Sharpe described the underpayments as “shocking” and said casual staff who were most affected were being exploited.

Professor Pam Sharpe. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“I think wage theft at UTAS is shocking - taking place over the same time period (since 2014) as UTAS spent over $100 million on CBD buildings in some cases paying three times more than the market price,” Prof Sharpe said.

“Casuals are now essential to the entire university system.

“How many of them are on Centrelink every university holiday? There is no sick leave so they end up teaching when ill. They are incredibly insecure.”

‘Tip of the iceberg’: UTAS rocked by staff underpayment

The University of Tasmania has admitted underpaying staff as far back as 2014.

The underpayments relate to penalty rates and not paying staff the correct minimum number of hours to be worked.

It is the latest Australian university to be caught under paying staff and the staff union fears it may be the “tip of the iceberg”.

In an email to staff UTAS chief people officer Jill Bye said a review showed there were issues to be addressed.

“First of all, I want to say sorry,” Ms Bye wrote.

“Our people are central to who we are as an institution and what we do, which is why it pains me to update you about this today. My commitment to you is we will be open with people and put things right.”

Jill Bye UTAS Chief People Officer. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Ms Bye said there would be review back to 2014 where “underpayments might have occurred it is a process which will run well into this year”.

National Tertiary Education Union Tasmanian branch secretary Pat McConville is worried more staff may have been underpaid.

“The underpayment identified by UTAS may just be the tip of the iceberg,” Mr McConville said.

“UTAS have not even begun to audit whether their most vulnerable staff, casuals, are receiving the correct wages for the work they have done.

“Sadly, we aren’t surprised that wage theft has occurred at UTAS as underpayment appears to be rampant in the sector.”

Last year Melbourne, Monash and Sydney universities were named as underpaying staff.

Sydney University had to pay staff who were not paid enough $13m, Melbourne University $9.5m and Monash University $9m.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has been investigating wage theft at several universities.

Originally published as Plea for law fix following UTAS pay theft