BRISBANE — On March 23, students at Griffith University’s Nathan campus discussed the fight against the Howard government’s new industrial relations laws. Organised by the Education Action Group (EAG), the forum was addressed by Ron Edwards, the National Tertiary Education Union Griffith branch secretary. He explained how universities are being forced to push individual contracts or risk losing millions of dollars in funding. “If we go on strike, under the new laws I could be jailed or at least face massive fines”, he added. Edwards argued that students and trade unions need to work together to oppose the government’s attacks.

Despite a strong campaign against the “voluntary student unionism” legislation, it is likely that Griffith’s Student Representative Council will close at the end of this semester. The EAG’s Bob Vincent stressed that the council building must be kept open for student organisations, regardless of membership levels.

Coby Pymble-Ward

From Green Left Weekly, March 29, 2006.
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