We Are The University

[TEU-academic] ] TEU Update - 17 November

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Fri Nov 17 2023 13:00:00 GMT+1300 (New Zealand Daylight Time)

Tēnā koutou katoa

Filling in for Barry this week. It's been lovely to see Christmas decorations starting to go up around campus. If you are involved with exam marking, I hope you are coping with the increased workload.

National branch presidents’ hui. Nicole, Andy and I attended the national branch presidents hui in Wellington last Thursday and Friday, and discussed goals for next year. With the upcoming National-Act-NZ First Government, it's quite likely the tertiary sector will face cutbacks. Also discussed was the pay equity campaign (see below for how you can get involved), and the need for the new Government puts staff at the heart of any tertiary sector funding review. On top of these, academic and professional collective bargaining is starting again next year. By recruiting your colleagues and building connections with your local community allies - such as your students, local MPs, community organisations, and faith groups - we can gain strength and influence these changes. There was also a good reminder that we need a mix of light-hearted events along with activism. Stay tuned for news on that.

[Group photo of branch presidents at the hui.]

Branch Planning Day Your Branch Committee will be running Branch Planning Day in early December to plan out projects and priorities next year. If you'd like to get more involved with the branch, please get in touch.

Siouxsie Wiles vs the employer. Thanks to everyone who came to Employment Court (wearing pink) in support for Siouxsie, as she started her case. News reports, in approximate chronological order from late last week...

Congratulations. The impact of TEU member Sereana Naepi’s research (in Sociology) has been recognised: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2023/11/13/pacific-academic.html and Auckland university awards Pacific academic for research on inequality | Stuff.co.nzhttps://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/133282558/auckland-university-awards-pacific-academic-for-research-on-inequality

Residential advisors at UoA struggle to afford “to live at the place they are required to live at”.As University of Auckland halls raise rents, RAs are set to lose their discount | The Spinoffhttps://thespinoff.co.nz/society/15-11-2023/as-university-of-auckland-halls-raise-rents-ras-are-set-to-lose-their-discount

“Not fit for purpose.” Australia’s chief scientist has lamented the nation’s research sector as chasing rankings rather than quality. Australia’s research sector chases rankings over quality and is ‘not fit for purpose’, chief scientist says | Australian education | The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/15/australia-research-sector-chases-rankings-not-fit-for-purpose-dr-cathy-foley?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Trouble with open-access publishing. Earlier this year, the entire editorial boards of two companion neuroimaging journals resignedhttps://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01391-5. The 42 researchers were protesting against what they thought to be excessive article-processing charges (APCs) for authors publishing in the journals, which are run by Dutch publishing giant Elsevier. Who should pay for open-access publishing? APC alternatives emerge nature.com

Science meets literature. John Horgan on what connects The Golden Bowl and Theory of Mind: Think You Know What Somebody Is Thinking? - Nautilushttps://nautil.us/think-you-know-what-somebody-is-thinking-424303/?_sp=6fc89568-6d57-410e-8cdf-f319a481499a.1699970171455

Reminders: Professional staff. If you are starting a new role at the university between 1 November 2023 and 1 February 2024, or are offered an out-of-cycle pay increase during this time, please contact Nicole Wallace (nicole.wallace@teu.ac.nz) with a copy of your letter of offer or memorandum and get advice before you sign it. If you have already signed such a document effective from 1 November on, you can still seek advice. Please send Nicole a copy. You can also see her during the office hours Friday 10am-2pm (see information at the bottom of this email). Pay Equity. The TEU pay equity claim for administrative and library staff is active. This claim has the potential to affect as many as 900 UoA staff members. We are now moving into a new phase of the claim, where member involvement is very important. If you’ve received an email from TEU administrator Lucy Fowler about your role, make sure you’ve replied! If you are interested in more information, email Nicole or Lucy: nicole.wallace@teu.ac.nz or lucy.fowler@teu.ac.nz. Medical Academics. Your representatives are discussing a possible resolution with the employer. If you have any questions, please contact Nicole, nicole.wallace@teu.ac.nz TEU office hours. Our organisers, Nicole and Andy, will be running open office hours on the City Campus every Friday from 10am till 2pm, in the TEU Office, Room 417, Level 4 of the Fisher Building (Building 804, 18 Waterloo Quadrant). Please feel welcome to drop in for advice or to catch up on TEU activities. They are still available at any other time on the phone or email Nicole: nicole.wallace@teu.ac.nz, 027 438 7254 Andy: andy.hipkiss@teu.ac.nz, 021 914046

In solidarity, Noel

Noel Zeng (he/him)

University of Auckland Branch Co-President, Te Hautū Kahurangi Tertiary Education Union. Join your unionhttps://teu.ac.nz/join.