Strike Digest #1
Industrial Alert
You may have seen the Vice Chancellor’s pay proposal dropped to staff after our rally yesterday. While we analyse the proposal, it’s important to note while the Vice Chancellor is using language about ‘bringing the bargaining process to a close,’ we HAVE NOT received proposals on secure jobs or workloads. This is simply not good enough.
We’ll be holding an in-person members meeting on Wednesday at 1pm in Market Hall to discuss what our next steps might be about taking further action.
Strike Day #1 Wrap Up
The sun was shining today as members took strike action for better working conditions for all.
Staff from 757 made their big exit by marching out through the in-person student services area. Some had only joined the NTEU Monday morning but were ready to strike for the week. Special shout out to Eoin who made his own "Stop 1 on strike!" shirt for the day.
A lively contingent of 100 or so Arts members were joined by supportive student journalists documenting every move, putting their newly acquired camera skills to good use.
They joined the 120 strong members from the MLS who had come from the steps of University Square for photos and chants before marching to the rally together.
Monash Road was filled with the chanting of approximately 100 staff and students from VCA School of Art and Stagecraft. The group marched from the Southbank Campus to Parkville carrying a large banner made by a collective of Drawing and Print Media staff and students.
Scholarly Services staff arrived as they always do, with approximately 50 members joining a strong contingent of students to march from the Baillieu to the central rally point. Many felt inspired and pledged to return on today for a solid day of leafleting the libraries to tell students why we strike.
The rally featured rousing speeches, including Professor Miranda Stewart who spoke about her career at the university, and how she has seen it reduced to an insecure employment model that exploits many of our colleagues.
What’s on today:
Arts
10am, Arts West 156 – Sara Meger from SSPS is speaking on ‘gendered exploitation in the University: a social reproduction approach to workers rights’.
12pm, Arts West Forum Theatre (and online) – Arts Workplace Meeting
1pm, Baillieu Library - Arts members will be joining the picketScholarly Services
10am, South Lawn – Library leafleting
1pm, Baillieu Library – Other areas join for leafleting
2pm – 4pm, South Lawn – Banner/placard making session757
8:20am, outside 757 – Leafletting
10am, New Student Precinct – Banner painting for Thursday Census picketVCA & FFAM
11:45am – 1:30pm, Central Lawn - UMSU Southbank hosts a vegan feast BBQ
2:15pm, Linear Park – Strike Drawing and Split Pin Puppets Workshop hosted by Morgan Jones
3:30pm, DPM Studio Bay 1, Building 875 - Discussion on Artists, Unions, and Radical Collective Strategies hosted by Imogen BeynonLaw
11am-12pm Old Corkman Pub Corner Park - We Will Rest: Collective Rest and the Daydream Collective, BYO blankets and pillows (some provided)
1pm-2pm University Square - Staff and Student Solidarity Gathering
We are also engaging in a soft picket of 185 Pelham Street, and will have a Solidarity Kitchen running for all striking MLS members.
