Martin Kear for Branch Committee (Casual Employee)

Early Career Researcher and Lecturer, Department of Government and International Relations, School of Social and Political Sciences

I have been working on casual contracts at the University for the past decade.

I have extensive experience in juggling the constant demands for work across multiple campuses, to continue researching and publishing, while trying to gain full time employment. All of this taking place in an increasing capricious and exploitative work environment.

What I stand for:

• The progressive de-casualisation of the University’s workforce through advocating for viable transition pathways for casual employees into full time employment at the University.

• Increasing the pay and entitlements for casual employees that reflect actual workloads.

• A strong and respectful union that is dedicated to shaping the workplace agenda at our University through advocating for practical solutions.

To achieve these things, we need a strong Branch Committee where disagreements are handled well and we build campaigns around what we agree on: that is, improving pay and conditions, holding management to account, and ensuring the continued strength of our Union.

For a good university we need a strong union, and a strong union needs engaged members.