SYDNEY UNI STRIKE A MAJOR SUCCESS – Momentum Builds for a National Strike
Tue 7 Oct 2003
A 24-hour strike by general and academic staff at Sydney University has been a major success, building momentum for a national strike to take place at universities across Australia on October 16, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) said on Tuesday.
“Today’s strike by staff at Sydney University has been a major success, achieving the NTEU’s stated aim of completely shutting the institution down for 24 hours,” said Grahame McCulloch, NTEU General Secretary.
“Monday was a public holiday in NSW, and there were more vehicles in the Sydney University car park yesterday than there were today.”
“Support for our action from students has also been strong. Very few students turned up and those that did came to support the strike.”
Today’s strike is in response to Sydney University management’s last minute decision to renege on the signing of a three-year agreement, the product of 12 months patient and cooperative negotiations, because it did not comply with the Government's recently announced workplace relations requirements.
“The strike builds momentum for what will no doubt be a very successful one-day stoppage at universities across Australia that is planned for October 16.”
“NTEU members are opposed to the Government’s plan to deny universities $404 million in funding unless they adopt hardline industrial requirements, including placing staff on Australian Workplace Agreements and removing limits on casual employment.”
“Today’s outcome from Sydney University serves as a warning to the Government of the industrial turmoil that will follow if it pushes ahead with its unwarranted interference in the workplace arrangements at universities,” said McCulloch.
“The Sydney University strike also puts university management on notice that they cannot take the middle ground on this issue. Management can either give in to the Government’s meddling or they can support staff and their commitment to high quality higher education.”
As further proof of the determination of staff to resist the Government’s plan, a number of other unions in the higher education sector are discussing their support for the national strike.
For information and comment:
Grahame McCulloch, NTEU General Secretary
Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator