Maritime College locks out academics

Maritime College locks out academics

BY ALEX BAINBRIDGE

HOBART — Academic staff were locked out of the Australian Maritime College (AMC) in Launceston on April 20 and April 26 in response to industrial action by the academics' union. This was the first time that a lockout has occurred at a higher education institution in Australia.

Industry action by the National Tertiary Education Industry Union (NTEU) lasted for 10 days — itself the longest strike at an Australian higher education institution.

"The strike is over the refusal of the AMC to match the 12-14% wage offers and job security clauses negotiated elsewhere", Ted Murphy, assistant national secretary of the NTEU, said. Union members at AMC are demanding a 4.5% wage increase over three years but the college is offering only 3.75%.

The academics' strike has almost shut down the college. Tasmanian NTEU organiser, Dave Taylor, based in Hobart, told Green Left Weekly, "There are no classes going on at the college and few students are turning up as there's no real point".

The NTEU's action has been organised to take place over just a few days at a time in order to allow negotiations to take place. However, management's lockout shows it is in no mood to negotiate.

Messages of support for the AMC workers can be emailed to <nteu.tas@utas.edu.au>.

From GLW issue 403