STAFF AND STUDENTS CALL ON SYDNEY UNI COUNCIL TO SAVE NURSING AND RURAL MANAGEMENT
August 2 2004
Staff and students will rally later today to urge Sydney University’s governing body to reject management plans to shed the Faculties of Nursing and Rural Management.
“The Sydney University NTEU Branch calls upon the University’s Senate not to rubber stamp the Vice Chancellor’s plan, when it meets later today, and to ensure that Rural Management and Nursing remain part of the University,” said Branch President Michael Thomson.
“The proposal is about a wealthy university ditching faculties that are considered by management not to be prestigious, despite their social importance.”
“Removing nursing could compound the shortage of trained nurses facing NSW and put an end to the only Indigenous health nursing degree in Australia.”
“It devalues the profession, and shows little regard for equality of employment opportunities for women by getting rid of the faculty with the highest proportion of female-to-male staff and female-to–male students.”
“Shedding Rural Management will severely curtail the University’s engagement with regional Australia.”
“The plan to cut these faculties will cost 170 jobs and has been developed without consulting affected staff and students or the Senate, the University’s highest decision making body.”
“The NTEU has written to University management indicating that a decision to proceed without adequate consultation would be a serious breach of current staff agreements.”
“The Union is seeking to prevent further action by the University in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission and, if necessary, will consider prosecuting the University in the Federal Court.”
“These proposals are a backward step for Sydney University, and if they are approved at this afternoon’s Senate meeting they will only rekindle the sense of institutional elitism that previously characterised the University.”
“The NTEU is also concerned that if this decision goes ahead, other higher education institutions will follow Sydney University’s lead.”
RALLY DETAILS
Sydney University students and staff will rally today outside the Sydney University Senate Meeting, Main Quad, Sydney University main campus, at 4.30pm. For more information about the rally contact NTEU University of Sydney Branch: 02 9351 2827.
For comment: Michael Thomson, President, NTEU University of Sydney Branch