The Joint Consultative and Negotiating Forum (JCNF) was due to meet on Monday. This is the formal negotiating meeting at which the three campus unions discuss all matters relating to collective bargaining with senior management.

The main item for discussion was an update and discussion on the University’s financial position. Unfortunately, the university failed to provide written information in advance of the meeting. We expected this to include a redrafted version of its financial position, which takes a less pessimistic position on student numbers and acknowledges the government assistance that was recently announced.

Without the time to consider such crucial and detailed information in advance of the meeting, the three unions considered that we were unable to engage constructively in discussions. We notified management that the JCNF would need to be postponed until the information has been provided and we now expect the JCNF to take place in September.