October Strike Update #3
Day #3 Wrap Up
The focus of today was racism at the University and Union, which unfortunately continues to be a problem at the University of Melbourne.
We had another successful morning on the picket lines. Special shout out to staff at the Melbourne Law School and the MGSE who have been picketing their buildings every day, speaking to staff and students in their faculties about the importance of the strike.
After the pickets wound up, we attended workshops hosted by the Institute for Collaborative Race Research and the Black Peoples Union to discuss "the reality of racism in the university." These workshops were organised to celebrate and strategise anti-racist activism and were focused on helping us connect our union organising efforts with the struggles of those who suffer systemic racial injustices.
Sessions in the morning heard about the ongoing fight to repatriate Aboriginal remains held by Melbourne Uni, and the experience of racism at this institution. Sessions in the afternoon discussed the IHRA definition of antisemitism, connecting worker and sovereign organising, and discussed next steps to continue anti-racist organising.
During our lunch break, we rallied and marched around the campus. Speakers highlighted the many buildings and lecture theatres at the University named after Eugenicists, including Baldwin Spencer, Frank Tate, John Medley and Wilfred Eade Agar.
Indigenous UMSU Students’ Council Representative and Students Support Staff Strikes campaigner Oskar Martin spoke to the rally about the University's hypocrisy in promoting Reconciliation and the ‘Yes’ vote while maintaining connections with mining companies who are responsible for the theft of land, and the destruction of sacred sites, as well as the University’s connection to the Menzies Institute.
"Vice Chancellor Duncan Maskell says he supports the human rights and aspirations of Aboriginal people, but he has invited and collaborated with the personnel from the racist 'No campaign' who are based out of the Robert Menzies Institute in the Old Quad.
This Institute celebrates Menzies himself who promoted the White Australia Policy and carried out nuclear testing on Indigenous land and communities."
The day ended with a critical discussion of the practical demands we can make in our union to ensure the experience and demands of Indigenous staff and students, and people of colour are represented in our union and campaign.
We look forward to another day on the picket lines tomorrow, and to joining our comrades at RMIT who will start their own 1.5 day strike on Thursday afternoon!
What's on Thursday
8am - Pickets, starting at Monash Rd
9.30am - Zoom link-up with University of California Strikers @ Arts West Room 256
11.30am - Lunch, University Square
12.30 - March to join RMIT NTEU members who begin their own 1.5 day strike
Full week schedule can be found here
