THE University of Newcastle (UON) won't participate in a controversial plan negotiated between the teachers union and vice chancellors, which is intended to minimise job losses, but some say erodes pay and conditions.
As previously reported, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) negotiated the National Jobs Protection Framework with vice-chancellors, to provide "a strong set of guard rails that will set what universities can and can't do during this next phase" of COVID-19.
It asks staff to consider temporary pay freezes or salary reductions to save up to 12,000 of 30,000 jobs under threat. It will go to NTEU national council next week.
UON vice chancellor Alex Zelinsky AO told staff on Friday UON had "considered the framework and has decided that it will not participate in the scheme in its current form".
"The measures proposed in the framework have been designed for universities with high international student numbers that are suffering losses of hundreds of millions of dollars," Professor Zelinsky said.
"Our university will provide input if there are further revisions of the framework."
He said management would liaise with staff, including union representatives, to determine the "most appropriate measures" for UON's unique situation.
He said the University Council met on Thursday to look at the known financial impacts of COVID-19 and discuss measures UON should consider at the June council meeting.
"Our financial situation is serious but by no means as dire as other universities are facing," he said.
"We started the year in a strong place, with zero debt and less exposure to affected student markets than some of our counterparts.
"However, the move to online teaching has come with additional expenses and we have lost international student revenue. These impacts, we will need to mitigate with savings."
Professor Zelinsky said staff recruitment "for the next while" will be by exception only.
"We are also reviewing our capital investment program and considering which projects can be delayed or phased to benefit from a potential state/federal government 'shovel ready' capital works program to stimulate local regional economies."
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