One hundred staff and supporters protested at Ballarat University's Open Day on August 22. The action was part of the National Tertiary Education Union members' long-running campaign for a better enterprise bargaining agreement.
Despite Vice-Chancellor Kerry Cox's threat to stand down academics for withholding student results, NTEU members remain committed to their work bans and are prepared to walk off the job if Cox withholds pay.
The protest aimed to make potential students at the university aware of the NTEU's concerns about the impact of poor pay and conditions on teaching standards. Staff and supporters lined the main campus entrance and held placards stating "University of Ballarat is in the top ten for teaching. Staff need your support to keep it that way" and "A for teaching, F for treatment of staff".
NTEU Victorian branch secretary Matt McGowan and the Ballarat Trades and Labor Council secretary Graham Shearer addressed the protest. Geelong Trades and Labor Council secretary Tim Gooden gave solidarity greetings from Geelong workers.
Jeremy Smith, the NTEU branch president at the university, was very pleased with the outcomes of the action, especially that a student volunteered to distribute information explaining the union's concerns on the campus.
The student was stopped by security guards from handing out the fliers and told to seek permission from Cox. Cox refused permission and, after a brief debate, turned his back on the student and ordered the security to "deal with him".