Melbourne universities strike for better education

Rally on the steps of the SLV

About a thousand university staff and supporters rallied in Melbourne on Thursday, 21 May.
It was part of a 24-hour statewide strike over wages and conditions that disrupted five universities - Deakin, Melbourne, Monash, RMIT and Swinburne universities. Latrobe were set to take action on 28 May.

Tammi Jonas, Council of Postgraduate Associates (former President GSA)

As well, Hawthorn Learning joined the action and the University of Tasmania walked out in what was said to be the first strike there in 20 years.
About 250 marched down from the University of Melbourne.
Support from members of the National Tertiary Education Union was high overall, with reports of half-empty carparks. Picket lines were well supported, with numbers peaking at more than 100 at RMIT.
Other unions got involved: CFMEU members refused to cross picket lines on three sites at RMIT and one at Swinburne—where the action stopped a concrete pour.
The MUA had a delegation of officials at the city centre rally, and there were messages of support from other unions, such as the NUW and AEU.
Students joined the picket lines, which were endorsed by the Victorian Trades Hall Council.
The strike follows about 12 months of fruitless bargaining at most Victorian campuses.

Professor Verity Burgmann, School f Political Science, University of Melbourne

Earlier this month Sydney University and the NTEU agreed a 15 per cent wage rise over three years and a limitation on the use of casuals. The NTEU has been seeking 20 percent.
NTEU Victorian secretary Matthew McGowan warned that further strikes were likely unless some deals were made in coming weeks.  He told the rally: “University management seem to have taken to heart the lessons of the Howard Government… and staff don’t seem to matter any more.  Some casuals are paid less than they would earn in a supermarket stacking shelves and we need to fix that now.  University management needs to settle on terms that are fair and reasonable and that will also ensure a quality education for students,” Mr McGowan said.
He said that we need “... improved staff/student ratios, more resources, improved conditions and a reduction in the casualisation of the sector through improved conditions and more secure jobs for casual staff”.