Read on Twitter
So @ourANU staff have to vote today on whether to defer a 2% pay rise. There are arguments on both sides, but I'll be voting 'yes' to deferring. Here's why.
First, I personally can live without a 2% raise. I'm not speaking for anyone else, and I'm aware that others may be in a very different position. If not getting a 2% raise would be difficult for you, I think you should vote 'no'.
Second, two thirds of ANU's budget goes on salaries. That means that savings will HAVE to come from salaries somehow ( https://www.anu.edu.au/covid-19-advice/campus-community/financial-health). Deferring a 2% raise is relatively painless for many, and will save jobs (and so save a lot of pain) for some.
Third, I think we'll need a financial and structural reckoning at some point. But it makes sense to defer this by a year or two (and save as many jobs as possible for that time), until we have some more certainty of how the university will look.
Fourth, I would love to have seen a more creative solution (small pay cuts at the top, so that those who earn less can keep a 2% raise). But I understand that this is complex and may not be feasible to get through quickly. On this, I am willing to trust the ANU leadership.
To sum up, forgoing a 2% raise is a simple way to save a large pile of cash. It's something that we can all do together. It's reasonably fair. It's churlish to drag the process out with petty arguments. And I think our leadership have earned our trust.
/fin
/fin
