NATIONAL HIGHER EDUCATION STRIKE A SUCCESS - Clear message to Senate to block Government’s pack
Thurs 16 October 2003
The success of today’s national higher education strike is a clear message to the Senate that it should block the Government’s workplace requirements when they come to the upper house for consideration in the next few weeks, according to the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU).
The strike, supported by seven higher education unions, virtually closed down the entire public university system across the country.
“The success of the strike sends a clear message to the Senate that the vast majority of university staff are opposed to the Government’s proposed workplace requirements for universities and want the Senate to block these requirements when they come up for consideration,” said Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President
“Now that the Government has gagged debate in the House of Representatives and passed the higher education legislation in the lower house, it is vital that Labor, Greens, Democrats and the Independents in the Senate follow through with their stated commitment to block the workplace relations requirements.”
“Pickets started early this morning and many campuses were completely shut down. Most of the remainder were virtually closed for the day.”
“All reports we have received indicate that the vast majority of staff, both union and non-union, as well as many students did not turn up and most classes were cancelled.”
At least 10,000 general and academic staff, students and members of the public attended rallies and public meetings that were held in all major capital cities to protest the Government’s plan to deny universities $404 million in much needed public funding unless they meet a range of hardline industrial conditions.
Protest actions also took place at a number of regional centres in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
There were two exceptions to the strike action. At the University of New South Wales, which already has an enterprise agreement, staff did not strike but took part in the Sydney protest action. At the Australian National University over 800 staff attended a meeting at which Vice Chancellor Ian Chubb signed a three-year enterprise bargaining agreement with the NTEU, which did not incorporate any of the Government’s proposed workplace requirements.
There were no reports of violence, with the exception of Ballarat University in Victoria, where one of the picketers was struck by car trying to enter the campus, but they were not badly injured.
Only one arrest was reported, a Liberal student who tried to disrupt the rally in Melbourne.
FOR INFORMATION AND COMMENT
Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator:
0438 026 277
Ken McAlpine, NTEU Senior Industrial Officer: 0418 357 499