Murdoch Uni staff vote for strike

More than 100 academic and general staff at Murdoch University have voted in favour of possible industrial action after the university did not agree to a 20 per cent pay rise.

The National Tertiary Education Industry Union said today that it will apply to the Industrial Relations Commission to hold a ballot for industrial action, which if allowed, will include a full day strike and a ban on the release of results.

NTEU WA division secretary Lyn Bloom told WA Business News that Murdoch University had become increasingly frustrated with management.

She said the union has been seeking since May last year for an increase in pay of 20 per cent over the next three years to put staff pay packets in line with other WA universities.

The union is also seeking job security for casual and contract staff.

"Despite our best efforts, Murdoch Management is unwilling to commit to the NTEU's proposals," Dr Bloom said.

"Murdoch staff have repeatedly delivered quality educational outcomes; we believe they deserve quality pay and conditions."

She added that industrial action could start as early as mid-September, should the application to hold the ballot run on schedule and union members vote in favour of industrial action.

Murdoch University vice chancellor corporate Ian Callahan told WA Business News that NTEU's actions were part of a national campaign and not targeting specific local issues.

"The university sector is under enormous change from the federal government and the NTEU proposals are to restrict the activities of the universities and our flexibility to respond to that," he said.

"Currently is not the right time for universities to be restricting their capacity to respond in a changing and flexible market."

Mr Callahan added that over 2000 full- and part-time staff at the university received a 4 per cent pay increase in June last year and a $1000 bonus at the end of 2008.

Staff also received a further 4 per cent pay rise in June this year, he said.