Covid bulletin – March 2020 (PDF version)
The Higher Education Representative Council (HERC) of the CPSU NSW met on Wednesday 11 March 2020. A range of industrial and WHS issues were discussed, including the impact that COVID-19. Accordingly, the following motions were carried:
MOTION 1 The Higher Education Representative Council of the CPSU NSW calls on the Prime Minister to step in and adequately provide additional funding to universities impacted by COVID-19.
It is imperative that the Federal Government urgently intervenes to provide adequate financial assistance to all universities, whose revenue has been affected because of COVID-19.
MOTION 2 The Higher Education Representative Council of the CPSU NSW requests that the CPSU NSW/PSA make contact with all NSW universities and request a meeting to confirm contingency plans in relation to potential impacts on members of campus closures as a result of COVID-19.
The clip HERE summarises the outcomes of the HERC meeting.
A letter was written to the Treasurer criticising the Federal Government’s Economic Response to the Coronavirus that was released on 12 March, for not providing additional funding to university financially impacted by COVID 19. This is despite the fact that it was recognised that the education sector had been severely impacted. The CPSU NSW finds this omission to be extremely short-sighted, and seeks that the Federal Government urgently steps in to provide adequate additional funding to universities experiencing, or likely to experience significant losses in revenue because of COVID-19. The letter to Treasurer can be read HERE.
On Wednesday 11 March the Gold Coast and Lismore campuses of Southern Cross University shut down due to a staff member testing positive to COVID 19. The CPSU NSW was able to gain confirmation from the university that that all staff scheduled to work during this closure, including casuals, are to be paid for their rostered hours. Two Bulletins were sent to CPSU NSW employed at SCU and they can viewed HERE and HERE.
The CPSU NSW has been in discussions with the University of Sydney as a result of it reporting a $200 million loss in revenue as result of travel restrictions put in place because of COVID-19. The Bulletin that was sent to all CPSU NSW employed at the University of Sydney can be viewed HERE.
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If you have any questions or concerns about your flex-time rights, please reach out to your CPSU NSW delegate, or the CPSU NSW Member Support Centre on 1300 772 679.
University of Sydney
Ivan Coates
University of NSW
Alister Wareing
Kate Brown
University of Technology, Sydney
Rosa Bow
Mark Christopher
Western Sydney University
Scott Pendlebury
Michael Reolon
University of Newcastle
Lyn Keily
Sue Freeman
University of Wollongong
Vicki Dodd
Southern Cross University
Shelley Odewahn
Marnya Flanagan
Australian Catholic University
Richard Faulkner
University of New England
Rob Webster
