More than 100 University of Auckland staff and supporters rally for workers' rights on Princes Street on 1 March, 2023. Photo: RNZ / Lucy Xia
The University of Auckland says it is disappointing to begin a new academic year with staff taking further strike action.
Hundreds of staff are preparing for a 23-hour strike - from 1.30pm on Wednesday to 12.30pm on Thursday - over work and pay conditions, with more than 100 out rallying on Princes Street when the strike started.
"We have been unable to reach agreement with the approximately 1200 staff who are members of the Tertiary Education Union (TEU), Public Service Association (PSA) and E tū for pay increases from 1 February, 2023," the university said in a statement.
Union members are rejecting some of the university's proposed changes to the collective agreement, which they say will compromise workers' rights.
"The university leadership is aware that a decision to take industrial action is not taken lightly and we respect staff's right to take lawful industrial action," the university said in a statement.
"However, it is concerning that further strike action is being taken at this time, given the potential impact this will have on colleagues and students. Given the educational environment students have endured since 2020, further disruption this year will be extremely challenging."
On 17 February, TEU union members voted to continue strike action which has been ongoing since last October, and included refusing to enter and release student marks, due to the dispute.
Last Friday, the university's non-academic staff also refused to work more than the ordinary hours as a further strike.
The union claimed many staff said they regularly worked between 40 and 50 hours per week, despite only being contracted and paid to work 37.5 hours per week.
More than 100 University of Auckland staff and supporters rally for workers' rights on Princes Street on 1 March, 2023. Photo: RNZ / Lucy Xia
TEU organiser Nicole Wallace said they had no pleasure in disrupting students' learning again but the university had not shown a willingness to take meaningful action on their concerns.
"[University of Auckland] is the only university in Aotearoa that still expects our members to sell away important conditions such as long service leave and retirement gratuity, along with the threat of no pay increase for some colleagues based on an opaque performance pay system - all in exchange for the same pay increase that has already been given to non-union members," Wallace said in a statement.
"Despite the university being well able to afford a real pay rise, the employer has decided to exploit the current cost of living crisis by attempting to push through these changes to the collective agreement."
In December, TEU said members accepted pay deals at three other universities - Otago, Victoria and Canterbury.
But the University of Auckland said the union was continuing to bargain for an outdated retirement gratuity for new staff.
It had already offered a 6.75 percent superannuation contribution to support staff in their retirement, the university said.
Collective bargaining continues on Thursday for the University of Auckland's academic and professional staff.
