Media Release: NTEU to live-tweet and twitpic university strike
“This is the first major strike that we have ever live-tweeted, and is the first time the NTEU anywhere in Australia has used the instant communications available on social media to send messages, images and video of picket lines and the rally,” said Matthew McGowan, Victorian state secretary of the NTEU.
“NTEU officers will be on picket lines at both RMIT and Melbourne University to send live updates of events using Twitter. This will allow NTEU members and supporters from other universities who are not taking industrial action to follow what is going on,” he said.
The NTEU will also be video recording the pickets at both universities and uploading it to YouTube, where it will be watched by staff at the University of Ballarat.
“It’s not often that staff from the University of Ballarat can watch, support and participate online with the action at another university such as RMIT or Melbourne University,” said Jeremy Smith, the University of Ballarat staff president.
“We are able to do this because a significant number of university staff use online social networking, such as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. At the last rally we held, we got a lot of requests from staff who stayed home or who were overseas, asking for Twitpics and video clips of events as they unfolded,” Mr McGowan said.
“In the lead up to these strikes at Melbourne and RMIT, in addition to calling all our members, we did a short YouTube video to promote the rally. The video was distributed via Twitter and Facebook and received over 2,500 views within the first three hours,” he said.
Staff at Melbourne and RMIT will be rallying at 12:45pm at the University Square. There will be picket lines at the main entrances of both universities from 7am. The strike will last 24 hours, affecting Melbourne University’s Parkville campus and RMIT’s city campuses.
Staff at Melbourne and RMIT have been trying to conclude collective bargaining since mid-2008. Over 3000 staff will be eligible to go on strike.
EVENT DETAILS AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
RMIT and MELBOURNE: Rally at 12:45pm at University Square, corner Grattan St and Leicester St, Carlton South.
For more information:
Alex White, Media Officer, NTEU Victorian Division, 0403 694 397
Twitter: @NTEUVictoria
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Branch Contacts
Branch Office
Room 109 Building 4 Wagga Campus
Charles Sturt University
Phone: 02 6933 4463
csu@nteu.org.au
http://www.nteu.org.au/csu
Susan Wood
Branch President
swood@csu.edu.au
Bonny Campbell
Branch Organiser
bcampbell@nteu.org.au
Kevin Poynter
Branch Organiser
kpoynter@nteu.org.au
Comments
[ -2 ] It was great that the protest was more visible as we marched down Swanston street, but the NTEU is losing traction at RMIT. We had far less members on this action than the last picket line. In one dept 20+ members decided not to participate due to anger with the RMIT nteu branch over the poorly organized and executed University Council meeting strike debarcle. I would like to see NTEU organisers working a grass roots, face-to-face campaign that involves officials doing the "meet & greet" across RMIT. For the NTEU to remain viable, we need to create a supportive environment and get the message across to member in person, not just send an email. This is also a great way to map the site and get to know members on a personal level, get to know who will put in the hard yards. Yesterday was tough, constant abuse from students adds pressure, but the right to better working conditions and quality education IS worth fighting for. We need new strategies for a new era, it's not the 1970's and the NTEU need to get back to basics. For those who didn't participate in the walk to Melbourne Uni, you missed out on a chance to show your colleagues just how much you support them. We can't just rely on the NTEU to improve our work conditions. Everytime you exploit a fellow staff member (especially sessionals), or disrespect co-workers, you are personally responsible for the decline of conditions in the university sector. We need to lead by example and generosity of heart and spirit can take us a long way towards winning our fight.
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