Achieving Environmental Sustainability in Australian Universities: NTEU's Campaign and Successes
NTEU's campaign for environmental sustainability in Australian universities has led to significant achievements, with 26 out of 38 universities making sustainability claims. The successful integration of sustainability clauses in bargaining agreements reflects the commitment to environmentally sustainable practices. Challenges faced included management resistance and the need for strong bargaining strategies. The emphasis on the Talloires Declaration and the active involvement of environment union groups have been key drivers of success.
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Genevieve Kelly NSW Secretary
NTEU BARGAINING CAMPAIGN Enterprise Bargaining in each university 38 Public Universities in Australia Completed our last bargaining round in 2011
CAMPAIGN Claims across the sector and local claims at each university NTEU environment network: Campus sustainability Encouraging local branches to pressure their university to sign the Tallories Declaration Engaging the union in policy debate Getting sustainability clauses in agreements
The Talloires Declaration (TD) is a ten-point action plan for incorporating sustainability and environmental literacy in teaching, research, operations and outreach at colleges and universities. It has been signed by over 350 university presidents and chancellors in over 40 countries. Composed in 1990 at an international conference in Talloires, France, this is the first official statement made by university administrators of a commitment to environmental sustainability in higher education. 20 Australian Universities have now signed
CLAIMS At 26 out of 38 universities NTEU made a sustainability claim More successful where we had an active environment union group and commitment on the bargaining team.
DIFFICULTIES Management arguing it was not an employment related issue Flat refusal Difficult bargaining round and bargainers needed a lot of commitment to the cause or agreeable management
CLAUSES ACHIEVED: Successful in achieving claims in 14 of these 26 and achieved one Letter of understanding on the university s commitment to environmentally sustainable practices. Variety in the detail and commitment to implementation Macquarie University detail to Charles Darwin - more minimalist
Macquarie: 2.6 Environmental Sustainability 2.6.1 The University is committed to improving the environmental sustainability of the institution by incorporating sustainable practices into its strategies and plans and by promoting a culture of sustainability. 2.6.2 The University will promote sustainability by:(a) annual reporting on performance against sustainability targets;(b) making such reports publicly available;(c) regularly informing the University community of the University's carbon emission, water and energy consumption levels, green-space and biodiversity.
Mq Contd. 2.6.3 The University will continue to develop a culture that supports sustainability by:(a) providing training and support for staff to adopt sustainability principles and practices to achieve sustainable behaviour change in the workplace;(b) encouraging Staff to raise matters relating to waste, pollution, or environmental mismanagement.
2.6.4 The University will support and promote the use of alternative forms of transport to and from work by:(a) the Staff Travel Loan Scheme, which provides an interest free loan for staff to purchase quarterly, half yearly or yearly passes to travel on trains, ferries and buses;(b) the provision of pedestrian access paths for walkers, including improvements to current path entry to the campus;(c) the provision of cycling facilities for cyclists, including bicycle hubs and maintenance area, u-rails, and improved signage;(d) car pooling, including dedicated car parks and permits for car pooling;(e) investigating the provision of shuttle buses for staff to, and from, work in those areas of Sydney that are not adequately serviced by public transport;(f) investigating transport subsidies for Staff.
Mq continued 2.6.5 The University is committed to consultation on the introduction and integration of practices that aim to improve the sustainability performance of the University. To assist with this goal a representative of each of the [Unions] will be invited to attend meetings of the University's Sustainability Working Group
University of Tasmania Academic Staff Agreement 2010-2012:10. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS The University is committed to reducing its environmental footprint by involving staff, students and the unions to assist in finding solutions and strategies to deal with the environmental impact of a changing climate. The University has an Environmental Management Group and will extend its membership to include a nominee of the NTEU.
UWS General & Academic Staff Agreements 2009 2012: ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY(1) The University is committed to developing and implementing initiatives consistent with its Environmental Management Plan and overall strategic plan. As part of its commitment to sustainability, UWS has become a signatory to the Talloires Declaration, the official international statement made by university administrators of a commitment to environmental sustainability in higher education.
UWS CONT. (2) The University will develop a program to build staff awareness of energy efficiency, waste minimisation, sustainable transport use and greater water efficiency.(3) The Implementation Committee will be provided with an annual overview of the University's sustainability strategy and initiatives. The committee will provide feedback and input to the implementation of the Environmental Management Plan and Sustainability Plan.(4) The NTEU and CPSU will each nominate a staff representative with relevant professional expertise to become a member of the UWS Greening Task Force.
ANALYSIS OF UNIVERSITY PERFORMANCE Clause in the Enterprise agreement Signatory to Taillores Declaration Status of sustainability committee and representation Targets established for GHG emissions Develop/Implement sustainability policies in operational processes
NEXT ROUND OF BARGAINING Development of Branch claims Analysis of green achievements vrs greenwash; SEAN report card Representation Commitments outside bargaining
