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'This does not have to happen': Tertiary Education Union disappointed by Massey University job cuts

8 June, 2023

Interview by Spike Keith, adapted by Rawan Saadi

Massey University has announced their plans to cut several administration and finance jobs. The Tertiary Education Union (TEU) are asking the Vice-Chancellor to include them in the conversation. Photo: Massey University. 

Earlier this week the Vice-Chancellor and senior leadership team at Massey University announced their plan to go ahead with 178 job cuts. 

The jobs across finance and administration will be replaced with 141 new roles, meaning the loss of 37 jobs. 

The TEU has expressed their disappointment with this decision and is concerned about what it will mean for the university's future. 

TEU organiser Ben Schmidt told 95bFM’s The Wire that the cuts are unnecessary.

"This does not have to happen... This would see a loss of essential and long-serving staff who keep the University running and do crucial behind-the-scenes work to support academics in delivering excellent teaching and research."

Massey's senior leadership team has justified their decision, claiming that the job cuts will make the University more efficient, something TEU members strongly disagree with.

“Our members are experts in their jobs, they know what needs to be done. Cutting staff will only make things worse. They are already under resourced and staff are stretched thin,” Schmidt said. 

“People are leaving and not being replaced so people are really having to do multiple jobs. That is unsafe and unsustainable.”

Schmidt stressed that the University needs more investment and funding to support overworked admin and finance employees instead of cutting their vital roles.  

TEU members have urged the Vice-Chancellor to listen to their concerns and warn that this decision will significantly disrupt staff and students.

“What this is going to do is completely undervalue and ignore the specialist skills, responsibilities, knowledge, and relationships our members have built up in their work areas.”

Employment and funding cuts have been a widespread issue among universities across Aotearoa, with the University of Waikato and Otago both proposing job cuts over the last two weeks. 

“The university sector is facing wider challenges at the moment including funding and what we need to see happen is a tripartite conversation with the union, the vice-chancellors, and the government.”

The TEU is asking the government to allow them to be more actively involved in the decision making process. 

“We have said to the vice-chancellor we are open to doing that. She has unfortunately declined that offer and we urge her to work with us."

Listen to the full interview

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air