Union calls for backpay and apology after University of Melbourne faculties cut PhD rates for casuals
ABCKerstin Knight still remembers her joy in 2017 as she submitted her PhD and received Australia's highest educational achievement. Key points: Unions have been calling for action over the pay rates of university staff with PhDs An open letter signed by more than 1,000 university staff was presented at last week's University Council meeting with an appeal for action It comes after a series of ABC stories revealed wage theft at 13 public universities, leading to a number of federal inquiries " I'm probably looking a little bit exhausted. been in our higher education industrial relations system for 40 years or more and it's a well-established practice across the sector," NTEU Assistant-Secretary Sarah Roberts said. Last year the University of Melbourne apologised, calling wage theft "systemic", but staff are frustrated it is still happening on the coal face. "The enterprise agreement makes provision for higher sessional teaching rates of pay for work required 'with a requisite PhD'," the spokesperson said.
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