"It's time to return to the negotiating table so we can reach an agreement that gives staff the fair pay rise they deserve while protecting against casualisation.”

The ballot saw 89% of Academic staff and 75% of Professional staff vote against the agreement, after the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and the University of Newcastle Casuals Collective heavily lobbied against the proposed agreement.

Management is yet to accept the union’s calls for this allowance to be offered annually.

Speaking with staff about how casualisation is a feminist issue.

Job security and the rationalisation of change processes are high on the agenda.

Many say that fewer staff could be doing research, given that it draws in less money than teaching activities.