Macquarie University's results not in jeopardy

SOME examination results withheld by industrial action at Macquarie University may be released after a breakthrough yesterday.

The National Tertiary Education Union struck an in-principle agreement with Macquarie, a university spokesman said. The deal will be put to union members today.

Under the deal, there would be an agreed schedule of exam release dates for some categories of students, including internationals and those about to graduate. Macquarie had argued internationals might lose their visas if they could not show progress in their studies, while graduating students might be prejudiced in their job hunting.

The university applied to the Fair Work Australia tribunal for an order under section 424 of the act suspending industrial action on the basis of the likely prejudice to certain categories of students. The tribunal held a hearing yesterday but did not need to decide the s424 application because Macquarie and the union struck an in-principle agreement.

NTEU branch president Cathy Rytmeister said staff had made every effort to prevent students being disadvantaged by bans on transmitting exam results to the university administration. The union has been in dispute over pay demands and a national campaign to restore limits on casual and fixed term employment.