Australian National University

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1. 

   ANU rally to protest School of Music cuts - photo gallery

   Posted 17 May 2012 by Jane Maze (ACT Division)

   If you didn't get to be at one of the best rallies ever, you can get a flavour of it here.

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   ANU School of Music rally

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     The rally began with bands playing all over campus, showing the depth and breadth of skill produced by the School.
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     Brass band gathers up protesters and leads them to Union Court.
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     Brass band and drummers and dancing, rhythmically clapping protesters.
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     Gary France drumming up the intensity.
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     Are we having fun yet? Oh, yes.
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     Jazz band leader adds swing to the chant of 'Save Our School'.
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     Musicians of very different styles join in protest.
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     The NTEU labelled the VC's planned ANU cuts 'Cold, not bold.' The meme has been taken further.
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     Music School choir enchants the protestors.
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     The drumming, chanting crowd fell silent to listen to the exquisite singing of a School of Music choir.
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     NTEU-banner-holding protester masked in the spirit of festive protest.
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     ACT NTEU Secretary Stephen Darwin inspired the crowd with a fiery rejection of cuts to the School of Music.
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     Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur addresses the rally.
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     Federal police attended but stayed in the background of a peaceful rally.
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     Protestors listening to speeches of support for the School of Music (Not, as this photo might suggest, worshipping a tree).
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     It was a huge rally of about a thousand people.
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     Jack Hobbs, ANU Students' Association's Music Rep, addressing the crowd.
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     Malba Barahona carrying the NTEU banner in the march to the Chancery.
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     Annie Carroll carrying the other end of the banner!
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     Yes, we're definitely having fun now.
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     Protestors dancing outside the Chancelry.
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     ANUSA President Dallas Proctor heading into the Chancelry (with Music Reps Jack Hobbs and Yasmin Masri) to present a petition signed by over 21,000 people.

   0 comments • Tags: ANU, School of Music, cuts, rally, photographs
2. 

   ACT Division Secretary challenges ANU's V-C in Canberra Times today

   Posted 17 May 2012 by Jane Maze (ACT Division)

   ACT Division Secretary Stephen Darwin challenges ANU's Vice-Chancellor to fight for, rather than fight with, the University - starting by withdrawing the ill-conceived proposals ...

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   0 comments • Tags: ANU, School of Music
3. 

   How you can comment on proposed cuts to the ANU School of Music

   Posted 17 May 2012 by Jane Maze (ACT Division)

   Many members of the NTEU, ANU staff and students and the Canberra community have written to Vice-Chancellor Ian Young via his consultation email line, which is open until 25th May 2012. You ...

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   Stop the cuts at the School of Music

   The management of the Australian National University has announced that all staff of the University's School of Music will be made redundant and required to reapply, if they choose, for a position in the School, with a net loss of ten jobs and no guarantee of re-employment. This is associated with curriculum changes that many students, staff and community members have protested against. The Unviersity has announced no intention to reduce the number of students but rather to increase it, raising questions of what combination of casualisation, increased workloads and offshoring of jobs will be used to handle a student load that has increased while staff numbers are decreased.

   ANU's Vice-Chancellor has opened a consultation email line and has invited community members as well as ANU staff and students to use it to comment on this proposal.

   The NTEU encourages you to let the Vice-Chancellor know your views, and to copy your email to the Union at act@nteu.org.au to ensure accountability of the process. (The Vice-Chancellor refused to share publicly or with the NTEU the comments made on his previous consultation exercise about planned job cuts across ANU.)

   If you wish, you can use the email text here. This email comments primarily on the issue of job cuts. You are welcome to add your comments on any other aspect of the proposed School of Music changes.

   Your email will be automatically copied to act@nteu.org.au. If you prefer to comment privately you can simply send an email to the Vice-Chancellor's comment address, somconsult@anu.edu.au.

   Get started »

   Your Name*

   Your Email Address*

   Email [Vice-Chancellor Ian Young]?

   Subject*

   Dear [appropriate name will be inserted],

   <div>I believe it is completely unacceptable to sack all academic and general staff in the School of Music using the pretense of a new curriculum. To expect those academics - whose deep musical expertise, teaching experience, and scholarship are what constitutes the School of Music - to be forced to apply for 'new' jobs in the institution which derives its status from their work, expertise, and professional reputations is an insult.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>It is equally unacceptable that experienced administrative and support staff are all to be sacked and required to reapply for their positions. How can the work of administering the School have changed so radically as to require this?</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>I support the NTEU&nbsp;in disputing that this redundancy announcement is even legal, and I endorse the call for the process to be suspended until staff&nbsp;&nbsp;have been properly and genuinely consulted, as they are required to be when significant workplace change is proposed.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The announced curriculum changes appear to involve outsourcing and further casualisation of teaching. I condemn the replacement of ongoing academics by the employment of staff under poorer conditions and pay, merely as it represents a cost saving to the ANU.&nbsp;</div>

   Yours Sincerely,
   

   [Your details]

   0 comments • Tags: ANU, School of Music, cuts, Email
4. 

   NTEU media release: Governments must listen to Insecure Work Inquiry on need for increased investment in skills and education

   Posted 16 May 2012 by Andrew Nette (NTEU National Office)

   The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) welcomes the report of the Independent Inquiry into Insecure Work, Lives on Hold, released at Australian Council of Trade Unions Congress in Sydney today.

   ...

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   0 comments • Tags: media release, higher education, casuals
5. 

   NTEU forces ANU to respect rights of Music staff under Enterprise Agreement

   Posted 15 May 2012 by Stephen Darwin (ACT Division)

   Staff in the ANU School of Music received an email yesterday from the Head of Human Resources, Ron Watts, regarding the failure of the university to respect its obligations under the Enterprise ...

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6. 

   Essential Vision: Are We Dumbing Down Our Universities?

   Posted 15 May 2012 by Paul Clifton (NTEU National Office)

   National Assistant Secretary Matt McGowan appeared on Essential Vision's Three Questions That Count, episode 10, question 2: Are We Dumbing Down Our Universities?

   Matt McGowan explains why opening ...

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   0 comments • Tags: essential vision, Matt McGowan, dumbing down
7. 

   NTEU Rule Changes

   Posted 14 May 2012 by Ken McAlpine (NTEU National Office)

   Fair Work Australia has approved our changes to the NTEU Rules, which were adopted at the National Council meeting in 2011.

   The most significant changes consolidate the structure of the Northern ...

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   (692 KB) - PDF

   NTEU Rules (as at 4 May 2012)

   Published: 14 May, 2012
   Tags: Rules
   

   0 comments • Tags: Rules
8. 

   School of Music Protest Jam - Monday 14th May

   Posted 10 May 2012 by Jane Maze (ACT Division)

   The NTEU encourages members to attend the ANU Protest Jam, next Monday 14th May, to protest a threatened restructure involving the sacking of all staff in the School of Music.

   The Protest ...

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9. 

   NTEU media release: Higher education gets reprieve from major budget cuts but some students to pay more

   Posted 8 May 2012 by Andrew Nette (NTEU National Office)

   The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) is relieved to see that higher education has been spared any major funding cuts in tonight’s federal budget.

   But the major outcome of the federal ...

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   0 comments • Tags: higher education, Invest in Universities, media release
10. 

    Dispute lodged about ANU School of Music cuts proposal

    Posted 4 May 2012 by Jane Maze (ACT Division)

    The NTEU has this morning formally notified the ANU of a dispute under the Enterprise Agreement about the proposed changes to the ANU School of Music. The dispute notifice argues that the ...

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    (368 KB) - PDF

    Notification of a dispute about change management in the ANU School of Music

    Published: 04 May, 2012
    Tags: Dispute Notice,
    

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