Staff strike for better pay, while Massey suspends it for those who do

Words by Rebecca Hogan (she/her), Sammy Carter (she/her), Elizabeth Moisson (she/her) 

Staff and students joined together to strike for a 6% pay rise to match inflation, but statements suspect Massey University may not be budging from its 2% offer.  

The Tertiary Education Union Strike was held September 26th on all three Massey campuses, as well as the University of Auckland, Canterbury University and Lincoln University.  

Out of the four universities striking, Massey University was the only one suspending pay for staff who choose to strike.  

In an email sent to staff shared with Massive, it said, “the university is suspending all TEU and PSA union members who are on strike as notified pursuant to section 87 of the Employment Relations Act 2000.  Please treat this email as notice that you are suspended, effective immediately and until the end of strike at 4:30pm today.”  

Communications lecturer Sean Phelan started the Wellington strike with a speech over a megaphone.  

He said, “The university says it's not acting punitively. And yes, from a legal perspective, that's true. Folks, forgive me, I'm not a lawyer. There's four universities going on strike today. There's only one that's not going to pay.” 

“Maybe we should all start doing mock invoices, of all the hours we work when we reply to student emails on the weekends, when we spend a few hours responding to some administrative request after hours.”  

The union wants to make sure everyone is paid at least the living wage.

Phelan told Massive the living wage is simply about paying people enough to live a dignified life. “As a basic principle, this is something that the union is obviously supportive of, and we'd like our employer to be supportive of as well.” 

He criticised Massey’s desire to have a constructive relationship, while simultaneously suspending pay. “That, I think, has surprised a lot of people, who often give generously of their own time outside of formal work hours to support the work of this institution.” 

He believed Massey has been prioritising investment in areas other than staff.  

“This is a criticism you can make against Massey and a lot of universities that they're often more interested in investing in their own kind of grand management plans, in things like buildings, rather than the people.” 

Massey student and Green List MP Francisco Hernandez said, “the University doesn't have its priorities in the right order. They've been trying to kickstart their Singapore campus, and they invested just a few years back in building a bunch of buildings that they've ended up having to lease out again or sell.”  

“But what they need to be doing is investing in the number one asset of any university, and that's the people.” 

He believed the wider issue was within the tertiary sector, and Government cuts.  

Late last year, the Tertiary Education Commission cut $52 million in funding for four major universities, including Massey. The commission defended its actions by saying enrolment numbers had dropped.  

A Massey University spokesperson said, “The university has recently increased its pay offer from 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent and this was done in consideration of improvements in its financial deficit.”  

The university had a budget deficit of $40 million last year and has projected to have a deficit of $30 million this year.  

The spokesperson said that while the university respects employees right to strike, the university also has the legal right to reduce the pay for employees who choose to withhold their labour through strike action.  

“We cannot comment on the decisions and response actions of other universities in respect of strike action. Massey did not reduce pay during previous strike actions in October 2022 when some other institutions decided on that course of action. Each university makes its own decisions according to its own set of circumstances.” 

Regarding the Singapore campus they said, “The university has not prioritised the expansion over staff pay. No New Zealand based funds are being invested in to Singapore and the new campus will be self-sufficient.” 

They clarified that the work in Singapore is the domain of Massey Global Singapore Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Massey University.  

Long term, the expectation is that Massey Global Singapore Private Limited will return to its previous practice of making financial dividends to the parent, Massey University. 

Regarding bargaining process and details, the spokesperson said its confidential.           

“The university is now taking a short period of time to reflect on the unions’ claims and on aspects of our bargaining position.” 

They said the university has engaged with claims for the living wage.  

However, Ben Schmidt an organiser from TEU said the university had not recognised or responded to requests for fair pay.  

“This is a protest to keep up with the cost of living, a fair pay rise, this is not being recognised or responded to by the employer.”