Dear University of Melbourne staff, 

NTEU members are taking industrial action for all -- staff, students and community. 
NTEU members are taking industrial action because our community deserves better. 

It is an incredibly moving and inspiring time to be part of the NTEU. Our recent demonstration on 3 May saw waves of staff and students joining together to stand up for our collective future.  

We took strike action, rallied and marched for: 

• An 80% secure work target 
• A fair pay rise  
• Improved parental leave 
• Improved workloads 
• Restricting restructures 
• Stronger WFH rights 

A motion was put to the mass of members in attendance, voted up unanimously. 

Motion:

1. To hold weekly open meetings of the Strike Committee, to oversee the organising work of building strength and capacity across the university.  

2. To hold a members’ meeting in the first week of June to hear reports on bargaining, organising and strike preparation in order to decide on the escalation of our industrial action, up to and including an open-ended strike. (more to come on this soon) 

3. To call on the new University Chancellor, Jane Hansen, to bring a fresh perspective to University leadership - one that recognises the invaluable contribution staff make to the University and supports staff to do their best work by listening to them during the bargaining process. 

For months, we have attempted to negotiate a new Enterprise Agreement with no tangible progress. On the night before the stop work action, management sent through a revised EA proposal. Although there were some changes, our 6 core claims were again ignored. 

University management has shown us through their actions that change will not come through quiet, patient negotiations. 

Thousands of staff and students want meaningful change. A handful of University executives want more of the same. Industrial action reminds management who the University is, and what it is for: staff, students and community.

In solidarity, 

David Gonzalez 

Branch President, NTEU University of Melbourne branch  

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