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PROTEST AT UNSW COUNCIL MEETING ON THE 18TH APRIL FROM 1PM ON THE LIBRARY LAWN
JOB SECURITY IS NOT FOR SALE!
PROTEST AT UNSW COUNCIL MEETING ON THE 18TH APRIL FROM 1PM ON THE LIBRARY LAWN
Dear UNSW staff and students,
The battle for a decent enterprise agreement for academic staff at UNSW continues. NTEU members are committed to finalising bargaining with UNSW management, but we will not accept conditions that are inferior to those achieved at other universities. We need an agreement that guarantees staff rights to a secure job and a reasonable workload, as well as fair processes around things like managing change, intellectual freedom and taking leave.
To further these claims, our members have mounted a long and truly inspiring campaign of strikes, marks bans and protests to draw attention to the seriousness of the situation at UNSW. Their courage and commitment to stay the distance has drawn warm well wishes from university staff around the country who recognise the importance of our struggle for the rest of the tertiary sector. They know, as do we, that to give ‘complete managerial discretion’ to a corporate warrior like UNSW Vice Chancellor, Fred Hilmer, who sees our university as little more than a business enterprise, would lead to worse conditions for staff and students. We must not let this happen.
Only to the NTEU bargaining team does management ‘cry poor’, insisting that uncertain future student demand means our claims cannot be met without putting University finances at risk. We do not believe that UNSW is ever likely to be in, a precarious financial position, particularly as it is a ‘first choice’ destination for students here and around the world. The University management is currently planning to profit from the construction of massive high-rise student housing – a sure sign that they know the future looks promising too. It is vital that staff and students make common cause through this campaign, in a battle to reclaim our UNSW as a place where staff and students, not corporate interests, come first.
If an agreement cannot be reached soon, we are committed to undertaking further industrial action such as strikes and bans. We regret the suffering that this causes to our members and to students, but we know that to accept a second-rate agreement would be worse in the long run for everyone. Please join our campaign and have your say. Our next rally (details overleaf) is timed to coincide with the next UNSW Council meeting. Let’s up the pressure on management to finalise a decent agreement.
Contact Julie Smith, our Branch Organiser, on 9385 2493 for information about upcoming activities.
In union,
Sarah Gregson
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Dr Sarah Gregson | President | UNSW Branch of the NTEU | National Tertiary Education Industry Union | http://www.nteu.org.au
NTEU Office Tel: 9385 2479 |nteu@unsw.edu.au
Room 1211 | 12th Floor | Mathews Building
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