NTESU Draft Policy 2007 

TABLE OF CONTENTS   

Section 1 UNION ORGANISATION

 

                                                                                                                         Page

1. Role of Union                                                                                         1                                                                    

2 Membership                                                      2

2.1 Membership Policies Coverage                                                                 2

2.2 Assistance to Non-Members                                                                       2

            2.2.1 Preamble                                                                                                2

            2.2.2 Assistance from the Union from non-members                            3

            2.2.3 Exceptions may be made

 

3.Training for Union Work                                    3

3.1 Motion on Training Package                                                                      3

3.2 UNION Training and Women                                                                      3

 

4.Recruitment                                                          4

4.1 Branch Recruitment                                                                                   4

4.2. Recruitment Coverage                                                                              4

4.3  Aims of Recruitment                                                                                  4

4.4. Specific Recruitment Targets                                                                    4

4.5 Implementation of Recruitment Aims                                                         5

4.6 Motion on Recruitment Funding                                                     5

 

5. Legal Actions                                                     7

5.1. Industrial Defence Fund                                                                            7

5.2. Protection against Legal Action

5.3. Legal consultation                                                                                                8

           5.3.2 Realities that arise in the experience of Branches                      8

5.3.3 Principles for legal consultation                                                  9

5.3.4 Funding limitations                                                                                 10

 

6.Institutional Governance and Unions             11

6.1 Role of Higher Education in society                                                           11

6.2.Public Tertiary Education

6.2.1 Funding from Government                                                                      11

6.2.2 Public Accountability of  higher education institutions                           12

6.2.3 Public interest in Academic Matters                                                        12

6.2.4 Participatory institutional decision-making                                             12

6.3 Bargaining: Collective and Individual Agreements                                    12

6.4 Union Recognition                                                                                     12

6.5.Non-Union Ballots and Elections                                                                13

6.6.Staff-Student Alliances                                                                               13

 

 

 

7. Information Flow                                               13

7.1 Information Technology                                                                    13

7.1.1.Webpage on Collective bargaining                                                         13

7.1.2. NTESU Information Technology plan                                                     13

7.2 Telephone conferencing                                                                            13        

7.3. Use of Cell Phones                                                                                    14

7.4. Minutes of Meetings                                                                                  14

7.5. Records of correspondence                                                                      14

7.6 Media Coverage                                                                                         14

7.7. Whistleblowers                                                                                         15

8. Unions in the current H. E. Environment                 16

8.1.Institutional Mergers and Incorporations                                                    16

8.2. Outsourcing, Transmission of business, private providers             17

    8.2.1 Preamble on privatization                                                                   17

    8.2.2 Membership and Recruitment in para-University organizations          17                    

    8.2.3 Award Regulation in para-University organizations                            17

    8.2.4 Collective bargaining with para-University organizations                   18

    8.2.5 NEC report on para-University employment                                        18        

    8.2.6 Opposing Contracting Out / Outsourcing                                             18

            8.2.6.1 Preamble on contracting out                                                    18

            8.2.6.2 Policy on contracting out                                                          19

    8.2.7 Labour-Hire                                                                                         19

8.3.Commercialization                                                                                     20

8.3.1. Privatisation in Higher Education                                               20

8.3.2  Marketization                                                                             20

8.4 Corporate Sponsorship of Universities                                                    20

8.5 Cross-sectorial Co-operation                                                                       20

 

SECTION 2 EMPLOYEE RIGHTS

 

9. Workplace Change                                                                  21

9.1.Preamble on workplace changes                                                              21

9.2 The NTESU has no “in-principle” opposition                                             21

9.3 organisational change should be negotiated                                             21

9.4 Flexible Teaching and learning                                                                 21-23

9.5 Access and Participation                                                                            23

9.6 Credit transfer                                                                                            23

9.7 Recognition of Prior Learning                                                                    24

 

10 Workload and Hours of Work                                              24

11.HEALTH and SAFETY                                           26

11.1 Pre-employment medicals                                                                                   26

11.2.HIV/AIDS policy and strategy                                                                    26

11.3 Disability policy and strategy                                                                   26

11.4 Occupational Health and Safety                                                               26

11.5 Safety in Laboratories                                                                  27  

11.6 Safety in Libraries                                                                        28

11.7 Thermal Comfort                                                                          29

11.8 Working Alone                                                                             29

11.9 Sex-based Harassment                                                                 30-32

11.10 Bullying                                                                                      32

 

12 Career Progression                                                   33

12.1. Inclusive Language                                                                     33

12.2 Equity at Work                                                                              33

12.3 Equal Opportunity and Discrimination                                          34

12.4. Equal Opportunity within NTESU                                                 34

12.5. Institutional commitment to Equal Opportunities                        35

12.6. Gender Equity                                                                             36

12.6. Staff Development                                                                       36

12.7. Attendance at conferences                                                          37

12.8. Academic Study Leave                                                               37

12.9  Intellectual Property                                                                    37

 

 

13 EMPLOYMENT SECURITY                        38

13.1.Continuing Employment                                                               38

13.2.Academic Probation                                                                     39

13.3 Assistance for members facing redundancy                                 39

13.4 Pension                                                                                        39

13.5 Casuals and Contract Workers                                                     40

13.6 Home-based Work                                                                        40

13.7.Rules on Assistance Support                                                        41

13.7.1 Grievances                                                                                41

13.7.2.Discipline                                                                                   42

13.7.3.Enquiry and Information                                                            42

13.8 Academic Freedom                                                                      42

 

14 Quality Assurance                                    43

14.1 Academic Staff Appraisal                                                             43

14.2 Student Evaluation of Teaching                                                   44

14.3.Performance Indicators                                                                45

 

15 Research                                                   46

15.1 Research and the Mission of Higher Education                            46

15.2 The teaching/research scholarship nexus                                 47

15.2 Research Consultancies                                                               47

15.3 Research, Evaluation of                                                               48

15.4 Industry-funded research                                                              48

15.5. Research-only staff                                                                      49

15.6 Research Education                                                                     49

 

16 Examinations                                            50

 16.1 Postgraduate Theses                                                                   50