at the meeting a few weeks we decided that we were against VSU and that we would act in protest if it we could. this thursday the NTEU has called a 24 hour strike, opposing the federal governments higher education legislation in regards attacks to staff and student unions. it has been approved by lots of org.s including the natinal union of students. officially, the vc won't let unsw staff strike, but he is being flexible, and endorsing the rally happening at sydney uni at 12noon.
so do you reckon we should close the shop?? from what i recall of the roster, there weren't heaps of people on, the afternoon was empty, and i think neal is going away...
i've attacked some information about the strike passed on from uts.
xoxo renata
A lot of us find it hard to get our heads around the comprehensive Higher Education Reform package, and even more of us dont have time to take the action wed like to.
Youve probably heard about the Higher Education Reforms. You may also know that there is a National Staff and Student Strike this Thursday, 16th October, for 24 hours!
A bunch of students have collated this email to try and break down the rhetoric, bridge gaps in our collective knowledge and spark debate. We encourage you to read on, pass on and take on the ideas below!!
Heres what weve included:
:: Got 5 minutes? Ideas for action & involvement. :: Events coming up. :: A summary of the major issues in Nelsons legislation. :: links and other sources of info �
//:: HOW MUCH TIME CAN YOU SPARE? A QUICK GUIDE TO ACTION\\::
2 minutes ::::::::::: read the rest of this email, forward it to a friend, print it for your family.
5 minutes ::::::::::: talk to 1 person about what the university of the future will look like & join the education action e-group to be kept in touch! ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
20 minutes ::::::::::: write an email to your local MP or a senator. Tell them what you think of the reforms. The following dudes are the 4 small fish that we need to block the legislation in Senate (hint hint)
[EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] & [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Send it to the UTS Vice-Chancellor on [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED], so management take note as well!
30 minutes ::::::::::: pop into your Students Assoc and grab a few leaflets or posters to take to class or give to your friends. Have a chat with other cool students while youre there!
::// UP-COMING EVENTS \\::
NATIONAL STAFF & STUDENT STRIKE :::::; THIS THURSDAY 16TH OCTOBER!
Cancelled classes for 24hours.
Total boycott of all facilities for 24hours. That includes the
library, UTS online, UTS email the whole shabang!
Rally from Sydney uni, meeting on the front lawns at 1. swinging by uts, to Belmore park
::// GENERAL INFO \\::
-----------------------------STRIKE? What?
:: The federal government is offering a bribe of over $400 mill in exchange for universities implementing a series of workplace reforms including: - removing limitations on the number of casual staff, thus increasing precarious and insecure employment, and driving down staff wages; forcing universities to kick the staff union off campus, or force them to pay commercial rent for their space; cutting the union out of bargaining, and forcing individual contracts on staff.
:: The strike is the first national action of its kind taken by academic and general staff since 1996
:: Staff are taking action to convince both the university and the federal government that these reforms and the accompanying package of fee increases, time limits on degrees and increasing privatisation of universities will NOT be accepted by staff and students
:: The university and the federal government MUST be shown that this package is rejected in its entirety by staff and students, and that any attempt to implement it on campus will be met with stiff resistance.
-----------------------------UNIONISM? Theyd rather students were silent.
::Make no mistake, the government is not only attacking staff unions, but it is attacking the concept of unionism. In 1999 the Liberals tried to smash student organizations and were defeated! In 2003-4 they are going to attempt to do it again, calling the legislation Optional Membership of Student Organisations (if you were around in 99 youll remember it as VSU). Without students own vehicles for scrutiny and activism, campus conditions will deteriorate and we will have no organisation whose mandate is to inform the student body and take action against negative changes.
-----------------------------::// THE BIG PICTURE \\::
Its true that the budget promises an extra $1.5 billion to be spent on education in the next five years. Its also true that this amount represents a 10% decrease in existing commonwealth funds and that the government has taken almost that amount from public education since 1996. 78% of this funding increase wont be seen until 2006/7 and funds will be spent on implementing the reforms and paying off universities for their compliance. � Military spending is almost four times more than education spending ($15 billion, as opposed to $4.3), and in the 2003 budget the government announced the biggest increase to military spending in 25 years.
The government is moving swiftly towards a user pays system of education funding. Such a system only truly makes sense if you see education as a commodity, and your degree as something you could buy like a mars bar in a newsagency. Its ironic that arguments in favour of this model of funding ignores the fact that students already cover the costs of our education system through taxation and could actually cover the cost of free education for all if finances were focused on social good and not foreign interests and war.
The annual estimated real net benefit to government (less the cost of government spending) is 2.9 billion dollars (Borland, et al Returns to Investment in Higher Education The Melbourne Economics of higher Education Research Program Report No 1 2000 at p.39)
The Federal Government will be investing less in each students education under the new system.
Instead this is what any student will be forced to accept:
Up to 30% HECS increases. 5 year time limits. Some courses to be 100% full fee paying.
Some say arguing for free public education is unwinnable. Against the global corporate agenda to expand private contributions and shrink the public sector, debate centers around 'access' not how public education CAN be publically funded. But the 2003 Federal Budget with its education package entitled Backing Australias Ability is just another policy decision, to further a deregulated elitist and privatised
education. This government DOES have ample funds to support a public sector it chooses not to. �It's up to us to change this!
::// LINKS \\::
http://www.backingaustraliasfuture.gov.au/student_info/current.htm
http://www.sa.uts.edu.au/
www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/eet_ctte/ public_uni/submissions/sub329.doc
www.unistudent.com.au
www.unistudent.com.au/uploads/nus/campaign/ pres_1Parlia._Brie%85paper_rtf_3.r.pdf
http://guild.curtin.edu.au/FFAF/intro.html
http://www.dest.gov.au/
http://www.nteu.org.au/home
http://www.kerrynettle.org.au/300_campaigns_sub.php?&deptItemID=5
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