If Tertiary Education Union members vote to strike, it will be the biggest show of force in the tertiary education sector since 7000 union members at all eight universities took action in 2022.
While six of the country’s universities, including Otago, are involved in the strike vote, TEU Otago representative Phil Edwards said they were still negotiating in good faith.
"It’s at different stages for different universities. We understand that Waikato is not even at the table yet.
"We’ve received the latest offer to present to our members, and at the moment we don’t have to take strike action.
"But we still have a number of claims that are outstanding, and we’re still not at a point where we can recommend a settlement to our members."
The TEU, along with other unions at some universities, have tabled claims for a 6% pay increase and for wages and salaries for the lowest-paid members to be no lower than the living wage. The present employer offers for general pay increases range from 1.5% to 3%.
Mr Edwards said that it was difficult to know how long it would take to proceed with Otago staff members.
"We’re continuing to collectively bargain in good faith ... It really depends what the employer comes back with next week.
"If there’s no more movement, then we come a bit stuck, but we’re not at this stage yet."
But TEU national secretary Sandra Grey said university staff had been undervalued for far too long.
"Pay growth in the sector has been much slower than the rest of the Aotearoa workforce, at a time when inflation has been at 30-year highs.
"We’re talking about academic staff, but also about administrators, librarians, security staff, gardeners and many other professions, some of whom are paid below the living wage. That’s unacceptable. Nobody in Aotearoa, let alone working at a university, should be paid less than what it costs to live."
Otago University human resources director Kevin Seales said its bargaining process was "proceeding well".
"Our negotiations have been progressing quickly and efficiently.
"We have been holding regular and constructive meetings with the unions and are scheduled to meet again next week to continue advancing the discussions."
The other universities which are voting on strike action are Massey, Auckland, Canterbury and Lincoln, along with Victoria University of Wellington.
