Uni’s job cuts ‘puzzle’ union

By John Van Klaveren
DEAKIN University has made nine Geelong staff redundant after announcing a new digital strategy, according to a union.
National Tertiary Education Union Deakin branch president Steve Mackey said the redundancies were part of ongoing job losses at the universtiy.
The job cuts were predominantly information technology workers.
Deakin had pledged a revolutionary digital future dubbed “cloud learning” while simultaneously axing staff skilled in “this way of working”, Mr Mackey said.
The “contradiction” had puzzled the union.
“We can only conclude that the current massive television marketing and re-branding campaign and the elaborate multi-campus launch of the LIVE strategy has cost millions of dollars,” Mr Mackey said.
Deakin notified the union of 16 redundancies between June 27 and July 10. The university cut four jobs from its Institute of Teaching and Learning, seven in its Knowledge Media Division, three from School of Information Systems and one each from Facilities Services Division and School of Architecture and Building.
“Eight positions were at the Waterfront campus, seven at Burwood and one at Waurn Ponds,” Mr Mackey said.
“Beside these forced redundancies, a number of people in the above areas have felt that they have had to quit voluntarily or reduce their time fraction.
“The holders of some contracts have been told not to expect renewal.”
A Deakin spokesman confirmed cuts of up to 24 staff.