Sue Bull, Ballarat
If the Howard government thinks it can pick off workers in regional Australia, then staff at the University of Ballarat showed on April 19 that the government may be in for a fight. Four campuses had picket lines and the fifth shut down during protest action on the day.
A campaign for an enterprise agreement that would include a 22% pay rise to 2008 and 26 weeks' fully paid maternity leave has been underway for 18 months at the university. On March 23, staff decided that they were sick of waiting and a 24-hour strike was unanimously approved at a combined meeting of members of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), the Australian Workers Union and the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union.
Protest lines were set up at three entrances of the Mt Helen campus, and at Ballarat TAFE, Horsham and Ararat, the last attended by members from both Ararat and Stawell. NTEU branch president Jeremy Smith said: "These were the first ever NTEU protest lines at Horsham and Ararat. The response from members has been overwhelming and all three unions are completely united on the issues. This is an example of what is needed by the union movement today."
Later that day the strikers attended a public meeting at Trades Hall. Speakers included Catherine King, the federal Labor MP for Ballarat, and union organisers. A member of the Catholic University branch of the NTEU offered her encouragement and was warmly received.
A further strike is projected for late May. Meanwhile, existing bans on overtime, a "work-to-rule" and a ban on collation of research data continue. New bans on the upcoming open day and a research conference scheduled for later in the year are expected to keep the pressure on.
"Campaigning and fighting gets the goods", Smith said. "Our membership has leapt by 10% in the past month. Clearly, when unions act, people sign on for it."
Two days after the strike, NTEU Victorian division secretary Matthew McGowan was threatened with a defamation suit. Lawyers for vice-chancellor Kerry Cox claimed McGowan had defamed Cox by saying he was in favour of Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) and wished to undermine staff conditions at the university.
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, April 27, 2005.
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