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UWS board backs down

Shelly Ann Dahl, Sydney

2 December 2006

Pressure from workers and students forced the University of Western Sydney’s Board of Trustees to review its rejection of a $250,000 SRC funding proposal on November 29. The proposal is designed to help UWS Student Association (UWSSA) survive federal “voluntary student unionism” (VSU) legislation and came on the back of UWSSA having its budget slashed from $2.5 million to $450,000 for three years.

The board agreed to review its initial decision to reject paying UWSSA receptionists. UWS staff and students are prepared to take further action if the decision of the review committee is not favourable.

According to UWSSA president Phil Riggs, the board “cannot justify this penny pinching given that its in the process of selling off massive areas of land for urban development at the Westmead, Campbelltown and Penrith campuses. A fraction of this massive revenue would save the jobs of UWSSA’s employees.” Riggs criticised the Labor-dominated board for “using John Howard’s VSU legislation as an excuse to decimate essential student services at UWS”.

“I have been here for 12 years doing a job I love, serving the students of UWS”, receptionist Rhonda Cunningham told GLW. “It will be a sad day for me and for the students if we are forced to shut our doors.”