The National Tertiary Education Union has urged academics not to despair over a proposal by Australian National University management to move some senior language specialists on to fixed-term contracts, saying it was potentially unlawful.
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At a rally on Tuesday, which drew up to 200 students and staff from across the university, ACT division secretary Rachael Bahl said there was widespread concern that the downgrading of security of positions could be extended elsewhere across the institution.
Fifteen academics are set to go, and six positions downgraded to three-year contracts, under a plan to rein in the budget of the esteemed School of Culture, History and Languages within the College of Asia and the Pacific.
But Ms Bahl said there was a strong case to oppose the fixed contracts as the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement only allowed the movement of staff to fixed-term contracts in "very pre-defined and specific circumstances, and these staff do not fit into these categories which is why we are arguing that this is potentially in breach".
The union has lodged a formal dispute over the proposal.
Meanwhile, both undergraduate and post-graduate language students expressed their distress to rally crowds at potentially losing specialist academics in the less commonly taught languages of Sanskrit, Hindi, Thai and Vietnamese.
Losing high level language and research expertise prompted one student to suggest the ANU would be providing the same quality of instruction as any current language student attempting to teach English to a non-native speaker.
International Sanskrit expert and multi-award winning language teacher McComas Taylor said it was pleasing to see such a large crowd turn up and the issues were pertinent for all academics. He has foreshadowed leaving the ANU if the changes proceed.
"Language is to the humanities and Asian studies what maths is to astronomy and physics – it is foundational," he said.
"We want to work with management to find a solution to this."
Dean of the College of Asia and the Pacific Veronica Taylor wrote to all affected staff on Tuesday afternoon in which she acknowledged "that this continues to be a difficult time for both staff and students with uncertainty about the future. We are very aware of this and are keen to minimise the impact of the uncertainty".
After a number of representations from the NTEU, the university had agreed to a release of financial data and to make a financial modelling presentation to staff and to extend the deadline for submissions until after that time.
Management would next Thursday present the school's "finances, modelling and the underlying assumptions for the future. This information will include the static financial snapshot as at end of 2016; projections for 2017; and long range modelling covering best, static and worst case scenarios," Professor Taylor said.
"I wish to assure all staff and students that we have a willingness to hear from you on all key issues, especially around the financial information and future potential structures and models. Based on the release of the financial information and the timing of the modelling session we have extended the timeframe for submissions on financial aspects and proposed structure of the School contained in the change proposal until 5pm on Monday, April 11."
