The head of the university has yet to “step forward and answer questions” after three weeks of announcing 230 operational differences, the staff said.
A vice-chancellor of a university must be more than three weeks after he announced 230 layoffssays the staff.
Read this story in English here.
According to the skills of Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau, this program is organized by head Damon Salesa as a “bad mistake”.
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* More than 200 layoffs expected at Auckland University of Technology
* ‘Foolish’ plan to cut 230 AUT jobs will affect every department, say academics
* Employees of all eight universities vote on strike action to secure 8% pay rise
Auckland University of Technology academics are now calling Vice Chancellor Damon Salesa‘s handling of the case is “a complete slap in the face that makes things worse”.
AUT announced the cuts as part of a series of changes to the university, which it said would address the university’s “economic problems,” on Sept. 5.
AUT announced the layoffs as part of a series of proposed organizational changes designed to address the “financial challenges” facing the university, on Sept. 5.
That’s despite a $12 million budget in 2020 and 2021 — double what the university had anticipated.
That was despite earnings of $12 million in both 2020 and 2021 — nearly double the university’s projections.
According to department chair David Sinfield, Salesa should have a face-to-face meeting with staff to answer questions.
Speaking on behalf of AUT employees who are members of the Tertiary Education Union, industry president David Sinfield said Salesa should meet the employees in person and answer their questions.
RYAN ANDERSON/Things
Damon Salesa stepped into the starting position at AUT earlier this year. / Damon Salesa became AUT Vice-Chancellor earlier this year. (File photo)
According to Sinfield, it has been three weeks since the layoffs were announced and the company has not responded well to the affected employees.
Sinfield said that in the three weeks since the layoffs were announced, the vice chancellor had not yet been in direct contact with any employees who may be affected.
“I represent more than 720 AUT employees and it is heartbreaking to see people already angry about Salesa’s actions,” Sinfield said.
“I represent more than 720 AUT employees and I can safely say that Salesa’s approach to everything has made people even angrier than before,” Sinfield said.
According to an AUT expert — whose name Puna has agreed to remain private, consistent with his work — a 14-minute Topa meeting led by Salesa on Sept. 16 is evidence of disrespect by the administration.
An AUT academic — who has pledged not to name Stuff due to concerns about his career — cited a 14-minute Zoom call hosted by Salesa on Sept. 16 as a “classic example of the utter disrespect shown by management throughout this process.” demonstrated”.
According to him, the Topa meeting was promoted as a question-and-answer meeting.
He said the Zoom call was advertised as a question-and-answer session.
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“We got used to it quickly, there was no time to ask questions or answers. He just repeated what he did in the first statement.
“We quickly realized that there would be no room for questions or answers. He was just repeating what was said in the first announcement.
“Deep neck, shallow muscles; I know what I said wasn’t a personal statement, it’s a poor apology from AUT.”
“Actions speak louder than words and I know I’m not alone in saying that AUT’s actions here are a complete slap in the face that makes things worse.”
He also asked Salesa to “represent and answer staff questions”.
He called on Salesa to “go ahead and answer any questions from the staff”.
According to a longtime senior professional at AUT – whose name Puna has pledged to remain anonymous in connection with his work – the biggest obstacle for many employees is the lack of understanding of the differences.
A longtime senior lecturer at AUT — who has also pledged not to name Stuff due to concerns about her career — said a lack of transparency around the layoffs was the most frustrating thing for many employees.
“Many of us have already been hit by a crisis, but the biggest problem is pre-preparation.
“For many of us this is isn’t the first time we’ve gone through a redundancybut our big concern here is the way it’s handled.
“There was no understanding of the word, information was not shared, we are not just another vehicle – and it was a statement from the Taveretanga, without a bit of relevant information,” he said.
“There has been no transparency, no information shared, no sense of us being in this together – indeed, since the layoffs were announced, there has been no substantive communication whatsoever,” she said.
According to Salesa, AUT is so large that “I may not be able to have a face-to-face meeting with all the staff”.
Salesa said the size of AUT meant he “probably won’t get the chance to meet all the employees in person”.
Also, the directors have “taken care to convey the meaning of all this clearly”.
He added that management has “tried to be as transparent as possible throughout the process”.
“There are many ways to express concern [e te kaimahi]to get more information that is needed,” he said.
There were “a variety of roads” [for staff] to express their concerns and seek more information if necessary,” he said.
AUT has announced plans by members of Te Hautū Kahurangi ahead of the national elections that the sector protest will soon see an 8% increase in funding.
AUT’s announcement of massive job cuts comes amid a national mood by members of the Tertiary Education Union on whether industry-wide strike action should be taken to secure an 8% pay increase.
A translation by Kaihūtū Reo Māori ki Puna, Taurapa.
Translation by Stuff Māori Language Leader Taurapa.