Working for the collective good of future generations of university workers

Aduli Malau-Aduli, James Cook University

Aduli Malau-Aduli. Migrant. Academic. Gentle. Firm. Quiet. Peaceful. Unruffled. Fearless. Patient. Resilient. Lecturer. Researcher. Supervisor. Mentor. Father. Husband. Leader. Nigerian. That’s me.

I work at the James Cook University (JCU) Veterinary Science Discipline in the College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences in Townsville, Queensland, where I teach Animal Genetics, Nutrition and Meat Science. I serve on the NTEU JCU Branch Committee and as the Veterinary Science NTEU Workplace Representative.

In my workplace, I enjoy an atmosphere of academic freedom to associate with other hardworking colleagues who regularly bend over backwards beyond their normal call of duty, to provide top quality student learning and teaching experiences, professional and technical services. JCU Veterinary Science is also a collective powerbase because we realise that we are collectively stronger together than individually. Tenured and casual academics, professional and technical staff care for, and strengthen one another, under the same NTEU umbrella. This gives me immense joy, hope and confidence that there is always a supportive shoulder to lean on when needed.

The most pressing issues for my work colleagues and I include staff shortage in some key areas of clinical teaching where recruitment drives have not yielded the desired outcomes. More worrying is the poor staff retention record and high turnover rates that trigger an overload of shared responsibilities to fill in the gaps. An overstretched and thinly spread workforce is a real issue that we have had to deal with by first sharing our workload concerns with each other, before sitting down and discussing with our Management. This has evolved into an active Working Group that regularly meets to discuss workload matters comprising the Vet Science Academic Head, Dean of College, University Human Resources, Vet Sci NTEU Workplace Representatives and NTEU Industrial Officer.

I decided to join the Union and become an active voice for the voiceless, and to make the workplace a conducive environment for some of the world’s best veterinarians and non-veterinarians alike. I particularly care about non-teaching professional and sessional teaching colleagues on casual contracts with no guaranteed job security. Often, they are vulnerable and afraid to speak out for fear of not getting their contracts renewed.

There may be other unspoken happenings in the workplace shrouded in disguised and thinly veiled discriminatory practices that people may be dealing with in the areas of promotion, job security and well-being, but very reluctant to voice out. Sharing our experiences and supporting each other could help lighten the burden.

As a Union activist, the challenges I face include being misconstrued as the stubborn face of resistance, anti- management, and all sorts of misconceptual profiling. The highlight for me is our ability in JCU Veterinary Science to collectively enter a workplace dispute with the help of our NTEU Organiser, getting all relevant stakeholders talking about developing a realistic workload model and having a regular working group discussion that subjects the model to refinement. We are not yet there as this is still work in progress, but the atmosphere of mutual respect, collegiality and goodwill prevails.

I want to share a few insights with other NTEU members and potential members: If you are not yet an NTEU member, I encourage you to join straight away. There is strength in collective unity.

For fellow NTEU members, my advice is knock on doors, constructively talk and share experiences with each other. Strategise. Do something about the issues as a collective unit. It won’t be smooth-sailing. Be prepared – your name might be dragged in the mud, and in extreme cases, you could be the ‘sacrificial lamb’.

Don’t give up. Be resolute, firm and resilient. Don’t let history pass you by. Be a part of it by lending a hand, time and resources for the collective good of future generations of university workers.•

Aduli Malau-Aduli is an Associate Professor in Animal Nutrition and Genetics at JCU Read more about Aduli at his JCU Research Portfolio.