NTEU Media Release: Australian National University staff and students rally today against Vice Chancellor's manufactured financial crisis
Australian National University (ANU) staff and students will rally today to increase pressure on Vice Chancellor Ian Young to abandon his destructive and unnecessary proposal to make at least 150 staff redundant.
Staff and students will rally at 12.30pm, today, Union Court, ANU.
“This rally is an opportunity for the ANU community to publicly reject Vice Chancellor Young’s so-called ‘repositioning strategy’ for the institution,” said Stephen Darwin, ACT National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) Secretary.
“The NTEU strongly believes the so-called financial crisis being used by the Vice Chancellor to justify his strategy is a manufactured one.”
“His proposed strategy will result in unnecessary job cuts, close disciplines and damage the institution’s reputation in Australia and internationally.”
“Since the Vice Chancellor announced his plans, NTEU has been inundated with calls and e-mails from ANU staff and students calling for it to be abandoned.”
“It is clear the Vice Chancellor is completely isolated on this issue,” said Darwin. “We are expecting a big turn-out at our rally today.”
“There are strong similarities between the strategy being proposed at the ANU and what is being attempted at the University of Sydney where up to cut 360 academic and general staff positions are under threat.”
“In both cases, management have provided only partial and ill thought out justifications for why cuts are needed.”
“Vice Chancellors at both institutions are also pushing for academic redundancies on the basis of retrospective and completely arbitrary performance targets.”
Speakers at today’s rally will include
- ACT Division Secretary Stephen Darwin
- ANU Students Association President, Dallas Proctor
- Michael Thomson, NTEU Branch president at the University of Sydney
Stephen Darwin will be available for interview at the ANU Chancelry Building at the conclusion of the Rally at 1.30pm.
For information and comment
Stephen Darwin, ACT NTEU Secretary: 0433 747 007
Jane Maze, Communications Officer/Organiser: 0414 236 434
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Branch Contacts
Branch Office
Australian Catholic University
acunsw@nteu.org.au
http://www.nteu.org.au/acu
John Sinclair
Branch President
jsinclair@nteu.org.au
Barb Williams
Division Organiser
bwilliams@nteu.org.au
Kobie Howe
Division Industrial Officer
khowe@nteu.org.au
Athan McCaw
Branch Industrial Organiser
atmccaw@nteu.org.au
Jane Maze
Communications Officer/Organiser
jmaze@nteu.org.au
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