MOTION

NTEU University of Canberra Branch notes:

• UC staff received a pay rise of 2.4% in January 2026;

• CPI for the 12 months to December was 3.8% - which is 1.4% higher than the most recent UC annual pay rise;

• The Reserve Bank of Australia raised interest rates in February 2026, and many analysts predict a further rise in May 2026;

• In the last 5 years, CPI has grown by 23.5% (cum.), whereas UC pay has risen by only 15.5% (cum.);

• Unlike other universities, UC does not have a separate leave loading payment for staff – usually an additional 17.5% for four weeks per year;

• UC staff agreed to wage restraint in the context of COVID, where UC was the only public university not to pursue mass redundancies. Since then, however, UC has made approximately 200 roles redundant in the last 18 months;

• UC’s budget situation has improved dramatically, with an underlying surplus forecast for 2026;

• UC domestic student enrolments have been reported as increasing by 11% on last year;

• UC is pursuing other expenditure, such as building refurbishments and the appointment of new ‘Chiefs’ in the C-suite; and

• UC staff are in a cost-of-living crisis, which has a significant impact on staff wellbeing.

NTEU University of Canberra Branch moves:

That the NTEU UC Branch will campaign for an immediate 1.4% cost-of-living pay rise, representing the gap between the most recent annual pay rise and CPI.

NTEU UC Branch believes that such an increase is reasonable and responsible in the UC context.

NTEU UC Branch will continue to campaign for a significant salary increase over the life of a new Agreement, which will include this proposed cost-of-living pay rise.

NTEU UC Branch believes that UC staff should be valued, supported, and respected.

What would a cost-of-living pay rise mean to you and your family?

We want to demonstrate why this issue is so important to UC staff. Inflation has risen, interest rates have risen, and families are struggling with the cost of living. Share your story confidentially below. If you'd be interested in sharing your story to help win this pay rise, let us know and we'll be in touch!