Workers protest student association merger
BY RORY CAMPBELL
GEELONG — Staff at the Geelong Association of Students struck for three days, from July 18-20, in protest at the refusal of the association's board to discuss the impact of a planned merger with Deakin University's other student associations on staff's enterprise agreement.
The National Tertiary Education Industry Union, which called the action, has been negotiating an agreement since April and has made claims for pay rises, improved redundancy entitlements and other benefits. Two staff positions (publications and employment) have already been lost due to lack of funding and more will probably follow if the amalgamation takes place.
Staff are also concerned at changes to the new, merged association's constitution, which they label undemocratic. NTEU representative Mary Stead told Green Left Weekly that the changes don't allow student general meetings to override student board decisions.
The consultant employed by the student associations to advise on the terms of the merger has directed the GAS board not to talk to staff, which has infuriated workers.