Red Ant stands in solidarity with all NTEU Sydney University Branch members who have voted for a 48-hour strike on 11 and 12 May.

The decision was made after a protected action ballot was put to a 350-strong meeting in April. Members voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action.

While the University has been turning a profit, the Vice Chancellor, Provost and University management have spent months refusing to meet any of the union’s demands.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of Sydney University made over $1.5 million in both 2019 and 2020.

The Union’s demands include: ending exploitative casual work, making a real commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment, a fair pay rise, protections for academic research, controls on overwork, no forced redundancies as well as work-from-home, job-security and other improved rights for professional staff.

These demands are not just reasonable, but should be the bare minimum of the entire tertiary education system.

Quality education should be a right, this requires job security and good working conditions for university staff. The USYD action is a step towards the much-needed staff and student united fightback against years of attacks on education in Australia.

If no sufficient progress is made after the 12th, the NTEU has announced that an additional 24-hour strike will be called for 24 May.

For the length of this dispute, casual workers will not receive any income. In response, a solidarity fund has been established which can be accessed here.