University staff may strike over 30 per cent pay claim

Academic staff at universities are considering unprecedented industrial action that would see strikes at universities across the country and students' grades being withheld.

The Association of University Staff says the industrial measures may be needed as it seeks a 30 per cent pay rise over three years for academic staff and 16 per cent for general staff in a bid to compete internationally and domestically for staff.

Association of University Staff general secretary Helen Kelly said academic pay was "completely uncompetitive" for lecturers such as lawyers, doctors, architects and researchers who would be paid far more in the private sector.

Pay rates were also not far ahead what staff could get for teaching at secondary schools.

"The other point is 50 per cent of university staff are recruited from overseas and New Zealand is ... near the bottom of heap in the OECD -- there's about three countries below us for OECD price-adjusted salaries for university staff," Ms Kelly told NZPA.

"People in Australia are getting paid about 30 per cent more and much better superannuation."

Ms Kelly said at Auckland University, which was one of the better paid New Zealand universities, the lecturer pay scale was $53,000-$64,174, and the senior lecturer scale was $68,000-$78,000.  Union staff make up about 30 per cent of the University of Auckland's 3500-strong workforce.

More negotiations were to be held with universities from June 14-15 and if progress wasn't made, the association would be recommending two days of strikes by staff and the withholding of student grades.

When asked if that would be unfair to students who had paid substantial fees for their courses, Ms Kelly said: "It's unfair to students to be paying that sort of money for universities that are grossly underfunded and unable to attract and retain staff.

"In the long term students will benefit from a better system."

Ms Kelly said it was frustrating that the Government and the universities both acknowledged higher pay was needed but weren't moving, leaving industrial action the only option, "which seems pathetic when everybody else agrees there is an issue and we could just sit down and resolve it".

She said it would be unprecedented for there to be such nationwide strike action by university staff.

Ms Kelly said a 30 per cent pay rise over three years would still leave it "tight" for attracting staff but it would make a significant difference.

Victoria University spokesman Antony Paltridge said it was the university's policy not to comment on contract negotiations.

A Canterbury University spokesman said it would be inappropriate to comment.

- NZPA