THE University of Newcastle has approved 95 people to participate in its early retirement scheme (ERS), below its initial target of 150.
UON opened the ERS as a cost saving measure. Staff aged 55 or older with at least five years service were invited to apply to participate, which would see them them receive 10 weeks pay, plus an additional week of pay for each year of service.
A UON spokesperson said of the 95 staff approved, 60 were from the faculties and 35 were from divisions.
A National Tertiary Education Union Newcastle branch spokesman said engagement with the ERS was a matter for individual staff and their circumstances.
"Clearly, for many, once the detail was revealed the inducement was not enough for their personal circumstance," he said.
"To those that have left, we support their decision as it has allowed them to leave with dignity and some additional financial security as they move to the next phase of their lives."
However the spokesman said the ERS "undercut redundancy entitlements won by NTEU members" and UON had not confirmed the savings the ERS will generate or how many jobs it will save.
"Next year is going to be tough as management move to generate larger surpluses, seemingly at the expense of staff."
As previously reported, the Fair Work Commission has said UON should recredit all staff the five days leave it required them to take over Easter.
UON has agreed to do this, but said it will also appeal the FWC decision as it applies to professional staff and teachers.
The NTEU said it would defend this appeal.
"The FWC decision invalidates the clauses management sought to rely on for directing annual leave for professional and teaching staff," the spokesman said.
"It effectively prevents any future directions, we assume this is what management is trying to address."
Vice Chancellor Alex Zelinsky has since said savings measures to pay for the recrediting - which he said will cost $6 million - may involve job losses.
The NTEU spokesman said members were "outraged" Professor Zelinsky would "threaten staff for their challenge of his unlawful wrong doing in stealing their annual leave entitlements".
