By Sarah Peart
A national executive meeting of the National Tertiary Education and Industry Union on January 28 moved to support the National Union Students-organised national day of action (NDA) against education cuts on March 26. It also decided to "consider options for national industrial action, including the organisation of a joint staff-student NDA."
The NTEU requested that union members attend the rallies on March 26, provide speakers and media support, and not penalise students absent from class because of the protests.
Resistance is sponsoring a motion being put to student coalitions, student unions and NUS to strengthen the alliance between students and staff. The motion reads:
"This meeting calls on NUS to formally approach the NTEU with the following proposal:
- that the NTEU and NUS organise a joint national day of action and strike in the lead-up to the federal budget on May 13;
- that the aim of this joint national day of action and strike be to close down Australian universities for the day and to effectively demonstrate the anger of both students and staff at the government's agenda for higher education;
- that the proposed date for the joint NDA and strike be Thursday, May 8, five days before the budget; and
- that details be worked out by state NUS and NTEU branches in consultation with students and staff."
Resistance is calling on all student unions and activist groups to discuss the proposal and if adopted, to send copies to NUS national office and to Resistance fax (02) 9690 1381.