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La Trobe University evicts NTEU
MELBOURNE — La Trobe University has served an eviction notice on the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), demanding that it vacate its office on campus by December 31. Campus unionists believe this is just the first salvo in a campaign by universities and the federal government to drive all unions — staff and student — out of tertiary education institutions.
Karen Fletcher, an NTEU national councillor and a member of the union's branch executive at La Trobe University, told Green Left Weekly that the branch had already received tremendous support from students and workers, including those on other campuses, to fight the eviction.
"I believe that, with the support of students and other campus unionists, we can win the right to keep our office at La Trobe", Fletcher said. "It would be an important victory because this is really about the right of workers and students to organise on campus. We need to fight [federal education minister Brendan] Nelson's anti-union agenda for universities wherever it rears its ugly head."
Edward Johnstone
Socialist Alliance forced to re-register
MELBOURNE — Socialist Alliance Victoria has been a state registered political party since 2002. Under the terms of the new Victorian electoral act, proclaimed in late 2002, this registration (which allows Socialist Alliance to have its name on the ballot paper and access electoral funding) is now under threat.
Under the new legislation, all parties that fail to achieve an average vote of 4% across all electorates stood for in any state election must be reviewed by the Victorian Electoral Commission. The VEC has ruled that the alliance must submit an application to re-register by December 6.
Members and supporters of the Socialist Alliance in Victoria are encouraged to contact their nearest alliance branch to volunteer to help. Alternatively, email <victoria@socialist-alliance.org> or phone Graham Matthews on (03) 9639 8622 or 0403 802 944.
Graham Matthews
From Green Left Weekly, November 17, 2004.
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