Matthew McGowan, General Secretary The past 12 months have been unlike anything experienced by our union, and deeply painful for our members and the sector.
Matthew McGowan General Secretary
COVID-19 hit the higher education sector early and very hard, and the grim warnings about the impact of the loss of the international student market have played out as predicted. As hard hit as we have been by the global pandemic, the failure of the Federal Government to support higher education has almost been as devastating a blow. In facing into this challenge, the Union has found strength – inspired and led by our incredible members. NTEU members, delegates, elected officials and Branch committees have shown resilience and courage, and in their commitment to collectivism, they have supported each other and fought for the future of quality higher education. Our staff and members have worked closely together to navigate through the harm caused by the pandemic, and our union purpose and vision has revealed the lack of leadership in so many university managements. At this time of stress and pressure, we welcomed many new members into the Union, proving to all of us that we are stronger together, and that the role of unions is well understood in our community.
Images (this page): Jobs Protection Framework banner; Rachael Duncan (Melb) #SaveHigherEd National Day of Action selfie, 21 May 2020
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The Union will emerge stronger and more resilient from this crisis, and we have proved our mettle, even as managements and
government have failed us and the sector once again. Impact on jobs and our sector. The loss of jobs in our sector is not only a result of the havoc caused by COVID-19. The lack of Federal Government support, and the decades of neglect of Australia’s higher education sector has compounded the damage done by the virus. The financial impact of the collapse in international income on the sector is dramatic with an estimated loss of between $3.5 billion and $4.2 billion. The Union had warned of the risk of overreliance on international student income for over two decades. This reliance has been encouraged by successive governments who have relied on the income to drive increased domestic access without commensurate increases in government funding. Our teaching and research became hostage to government objectives to increase participation whilst decreasing per capita expenditure. It is cold comfort to those in the firing line to be proved right. It is the staff and students who will bear the cost of this folly. Government has not only failed to provide adequate support to the sector, it has compounded the harm to staff and students through the Jobs Ready Package. The Jobs Protection Framework In this gloomy climate, the Union has stood strong, and acted early. When it became clear how dramatic the damage was going to be, the Union sought to negotiate a Jobs
NTEU ANNUAL REPORT 2020 ◆ Matthew McGowan, General Secretary
