University Staff Rally at Parliament Against Proposed Cuts
November 8, 2022
Tertiary education budget cuts of $35 million are on the table for new mega-polytech Te Pūkenga, and Auckland University of Technology (AUT) announced plans to cut 170 full-time academic positions last month.
University staff were asking for an 8 percent pay rise to compensate for the cost of living increase, and wanted to talk with minister of education, Chris Hipkins.
After University staff previously went on strike on 6 October, McNeill said, “We’re here to have a respectful conversation.”
Sixty TEU delegates from around New Zealand were joined by staff from Victoria University, Massey University, Whitireia and Weltec.
“The vice chancellors seem to be on a project of the slow destruction of the universities,” McNeill said.
Nicki Whilford, union organiser with Victoria University said, “Our members are just asking for what most other workers in New Zealand have got this year - a cost of living increase.”