Australian universities have significant workforce challenges. These include the casualisation of teaching academics and indefensible wage theft and underpayments of casual university teaching staff.
Piecework employment practices are being replaced in other sectors such as for fruit pickers who are now paid a minimum hourly rate after the Fair Work Commission ruling in November 2021.found that about 50 per cent of academic teaching staff are casual workers. This compares with 25 per cent in the Australian workforce.Last summer, we interviewed 23 higher education leaders on priorities for universities as we emerge from the pandemic.
Further, the award does not specify a 40/40/20 arrangement. Some universities have negotiated enterprise agreements that tailor positions to institutional need, including 80/20 positions in favour of teaching, for example. To be clear, casual employment of some teaching staff is desirable. It enables PhD students to get teaching experience while studying full time. Professional experts can also provide real-world practical experience.Early-career teaching academics require employment security to build impactful teaching practice. It is also more difficult for university leaders to take steps to improve teaching quality when an important component of their workforce are employed on a casual basis.