National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) members took strike action on September 21 at the University of Newcastle (UoN) and UTS as part of a rolling campaign across New South Wales in support of a 7% pay rise.
They are also campaigning for job security, manageable workloads, fair pay and for casuals to be given permanent contracts — the best way of being able to deliver the quality education.
The NTEU picket at UoN was supported by 300 workers and students. The union is campaigning for a pay rise as well as manageable work conditions, especially payment for work performed and permanency. UoN made $185 million in profit last year.
The NTEU members sent a message of support to TAFE teachers at the Tighes Hill campus, who held a 1-hour stoppage and rally.
At UTS, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Mark Buttigieg MLC, Maritime Union of Australia delegate Erima Dall and NTEU NSW division secretary Damien Cahill addressed the rally.
Wiradjuri woman Dr Demelza Marlin, a UTS NTEU member, spoke about the importance of setting targets for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment.
Meanwhile, NSW NTEU members are pressuring Vice-Chancellors to commit to pay casually employed staff on the public holiday on September 22.
Most universities have agreed to pay casual staff for hours lost. The exceptions are Macquarie University, Southern Cross University and Western Sydney University.
“The declaration of a new public holiday shouldn’t compromise anyone’s ability to pay their bills,” the NTEU said, adding the problem arose from the university sector’s “outrageous reliance on casual staff”.
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