BY JEREMY SMITH
BALLARAT — The National Tertiary Education Union at the University of Ballarat has voted to back the planned M1 blockade of Melbourne's stock exchange.
The motion, passed by the branch's executive on March 9, follows strong support by Ballarat residents for the S11 blockade of the Crown Casino last September. It explicitly endorses the M1 Alliance's chosen blockade tactic and declares that M1 is a legitimate part of NTEU activities.
The NTEU's Victorian division executive has also endorsed a union contingent for a staff-student rally which will assemble at Melbourne University on May 1. A motion which would have committed the union to backing the blockade itself was amended, however, to indicate support for all Victorian Trades Hall Council activities on May 1.