The Australian higher education sector has pushed back on unions claims about governance and employment practices.
The Executive Director of the Australia Higher Education Industrial Association (AHEIA) Mr Laughton said that, “In relation to wage underpayment the vast majority of universities have self-reported wage errors to the Fairwork Ombudsman and established comprehensive programs to promptly repay outstanding monies with interest.”
“Underpayment issues are typically caused by payment system/classification errors due to the complexity of the sector’s employment frameworks. This is not an excuse but a reason”.
Mr Laughton said there were various examples of the Fair Work Ombudsman acknowledging the integrity of the approach of universities to the issue.
“There has been a great deal of work done by universities to update payroll systems in an attempt to avoid anomalies,” he said.
“However, there is a long running campaign by the union to characterise these instances as being part of a “business plan” to disenfranchise employees – there is no mens rea involved here.”
“The unions campaign is wrong, inflammatory, without any proof and simply aimed at catching a headline.”
“Universities are not for profit organisations that aim to work according to world’s best practice and provide the best and most supportive work and learning environment for academics, support staff and students.”
Mr Laughton said he wanted to work constructively in good faith with the NTEU, to further the interests of university staff – the sector’s most important asset”.
