More than a dozen former student residential assistants (RA) at the University of Canberra are working with a law firm to investigate and sue UniLodge with partner universities for systemic underpayment and exploitation.
These developments follow the revelations of allegations by concerned students and RAs in the regimental building last week. These included allegations that RAs in the regimental building were receiving up to $ 250 a month and doing essentially unpaid work. In comparison, colleagues in Sydney University Village (SUV) and college residences earn much more than those in UniLodge-managed premises such as Regiment or Abercrombie.
It is anticipated that Canberra-based law firm Adero Law will pursue litigation against UniLodge and affiliated universities, including USyd, for wage theft for the past six years. USyd is one of the many institutions involved in the threatened case. Although UniLodge manages these residences, it is better described as a “white label operator” with ownership and landlord obligations remaining with universities like Sydney.
“There is a systemic pattern that can result in certain group members being underpaid per shift who work up to $ 300 per shift, which is likely to result in one of the largest underpayments in the higher education sector,” said Rahul Bedi, senior associate at Adero Law, in a statement to Honi.
“These types of class action lawsuits are deeply worrying when a university tries to completely wash itself off from systemic exploitation on its own campus,” Bedi said.
Regiment and SUVs are expected to be on call throughout the day, organize social events, be the first point of contact for residents and be trained for emergency situations such as fires or robberies.
A major point of contention in the lawsuit is whether student RAs could be treated as nightly on-call service providers, which would qualify them for the Higher Education Award, rather than UniLodge classifying these students as less generous claims under the Hospitality Award.
At least three former Canberra students, Taylor Meers, Daniel Gock and Gabrielle Magyray are expected to lead the case as plaintiffs.
The complaints are significant as UniLodge has a huge portfolio that includes over 105 dormitories that house approximately 31,000 students. The conglomerate is one of the largest managers of Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Australia and New Zealand.
In 2020, UniLodge’s annual financial statements posted significant profits of over $ 23 million despite the impact of COVID-19.
These allegations are also accompanied by longstanding patterns of endemic wage theft and institutional exploitation in the workplace at USyd. In September it was revealed that the university admitted to admitting underpaid staff – which disproportionately targeted casual tutors – about $ 12.75 million.
Similarly, other major universities like the University of Melbourne and Monash are embroiled in their own controversies over wage theft.
The SRC’s education officer, Lia Perkins, issued a statement in solidarity with the students, arguing that management and private accommodation providers are using “exploitative methods” to make a profit.
“Students and staff doing unpaid and underpaid work like internships, home assistants and casual workers are the people who run the university and we can close them down.”
As part of its investigation, Adero Law is demanding testimony and expressions of interest from students who may be affected by these allegations.
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