Advocate March 2007
In this issue:
FEATURES
HIGHER EDUCATION
Urgent skills crisis in the mathematical
sciences
Urgent action is needed to avert the ‘fatal course’
of mathematical sciences in Australia, reports Emma Cull.
The numbers don’t add up at RMIT
RMIT Branch President, Jeanette Pierce, discusses the loss of
approximately 25% of the academic staff in the School of
Mathematics and Statistics.
CASUALS CAMPAIGN
Smart casuals join their union
NTEU’s national casuals campaign is in full swing with a
number of exciting new resources available to casual members,
writes Josh Cullinan.
Tell us what’s important to you
What is important to you as an academic casual? Tell us by
completing the online survey at www.unicasual.com.au
INDUSTRIAL
RELATIONS
Employers go on the
offensive in consultation and disputes
Ken McAlpine explores how university employers have adopted a
highly aggressive stance in relation to staff rights on
consultation about change, and the rights of staff to seek
compliance with their Collective Agreements.
The future of family life for the working
poor
Ray Hingst, lecturer in Administration Management at USQ,
recounts the situations he saw for families while working in the
USA.
ACADEMIC FREEDOM
Minister kills the messenger
Professor David Peetz’s unflattering report card for
WorkChoices earned him the vilifying wrath of Workplace Relations
Minister, Joe Hockey.
FUNDING
Who is being selective with university funding
data?
The Government has accused both NTEU and ALP of being
‘selective’ in the choice of data used to demonstrate
declining levels of public investment in Australian universities.
Paul Kniest discovers what’s what with the data.
HECS cap fees - do they work?
Caps on the
HECS fees has been put forward as a way of increasing the number
of graduates in areas of labour shortages. But, asks Emma Cull,
do they work?
INTERNATIONAL
Iraqi academics at grave risk
Education International reports on the perilous situation for
academics in war torn Iraq.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Losing domestic partnership rights: A call for
action
William Peterson discusses the disadvantages same-sex couples
face by virtue of their relationships not being recognised by the
State.
FROM THE OFFICERS
Game Theory and the Research Quality
Framework
Carolyn Allport, National President
Union launches new casuals campaign
Grahame
McCulloch, General Secretary
Great Investment Expectations
Ted Murphy,
National Assistant Secretary
COLUMNS
MySpace, YouTube, WeCampaign
News from the Net, by Patrick Wright
Funding by fanatics
Lowering the Boom, by Ian Lowe
What a difference a ditch makes
Letter from
Aotearoa New Zealand, by Nigel Haworth, AUS
We only get the politicians we deserve...
Regional Focus, by Jenny Austin
UPDATE
TAFE members win classification appeal
NTEU begins court action against VU
Macquarie’s present and former VCs battle it out in
HEWRRs has no case to answer public
Don’t pay extra tax on your super
Your Rights At Work campaign at the Mother’s Day Classic
SA WAC supports Breast Cancer Research
Government changes make enrolling to vote harder
NTEU fills the stands on 30 Nov
New faces in the Branches
INDIGENOUS NEWS
IHEAC releases report
Report recommends move away from base programs
NTEU National Indigenous Forum 2007
MEMBERSHIP
Emma Millar Award for Maureen Ah-Sam
New Membership Benefits Guide
New USQ Branch office opened
Access your union dues taxation statement online
Updating your NTEU membership details
‘Now it’s their turn to carry me!’
Elected Officers’ conference