Staff anger at deakin parking increases
Staff have reacted angrily to Deakin University’s move to increase parking fees by up to 300%, the NTEU Deakin Branch said today.
Dr Kerrie Saville, Branch President of the NTEU, said “many staff had contacted me complaining of the unacceptably steep increases in car parking fees”.
“Staff and students are outraged at these totally unjustified fee increases” stated Dr Kerrie Saville. She went on to say that Deakin University remained one of the most profitable universities in Australia, with it achieving a surplus in excess of 83 million dollars ( a sizeable 12.45% of operating revenue) last year.
“Neighbouring streets may be inundated with Deakin staff and students avoiding the steep parking fees, a situation the neighbouring Councils would be very concerned about” said Dr Kerrie Saville.
Student anger and planned action has forced the Vice-Chancellor to quickly modify some of the fee increases affecting students, but staff at the Burwood campus will still be slugged large sums just to be in the hunt for a car park.
“We believe the increases are totally unjustified, especially when you consider that for the majority of staff the increased fees will not even guarantee them a car park, it just provides them with a permit that allows them to hunt for one” said Dr Kerrie Saville. “What are staff expected to do if they can’t find a car park, cancel their classes and go home again?”
“An on line petition activated yesterday afternoon, had by last night attracted 358 names, which demonstrates the depth of feeling on this issue” said Dr Saville. She went on to say, “we expect this number to increase through the coming days.”
You can sign the petition here: http://bit.ly/deakin-carpark
Media Contacts
Dr Kerrie Saville
NTEU Deakin Branch President
0412716650
Garry Ryan
NTEU Industrial organiser
0418150223
Alex White
NTEU Communications Officer
awhite@vic.nteu.org.au 0403 694 397
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