Murdoch University staff strike back
BY JULIA PERKINS
PERTH — Academics and general staff at Murdoch University here passed a motion of no confidence in the university's vice-chancellor, Steven Schwartz, at a March 24 meeting attended by more than 100.
The vote follows a 24-hour strike on March 17 protesting against an enterprise agreement offer from the vice-chancellor which workers believe reinforces the federal government's agenda for privatising higher education.
The proposal, which would be valid for the next three years, contains a pay offer unionists describe as inferior and removes the dismissals committee, making it easier for management to sack staff without fear of appeals. It is rumoured that Schwartz would like to get rid of around 40 staff.
According to a newsletter distributed by the National Tertiary Education Industry Union (NTEU) branch at the university, "Murdoch has experienced greater increases in operating grant funding than any WA university since 1996 ... while its salaries remain the lowest".
Staff and students picketed both main entrances to the university from 7am to 5pm. A solidarity barbeque for staff and students at 1pm was well attended. Strikers released black balloons to symbolise the death of free, quality education.
Two days earlier, staff had voiced their concerns for the future of education at Murdoch University during student graduation ceremonies. Staff are particularly angry about the planned closure of small programs, including public policy, public administration, theology, Asian studies, Japanese studies, multimedia, physics, chemistry, maths and engineering.