Public rally held against planned cuts

PEOPLE travelling down Sturt and Lydiard streets last Saturday saw a demonstration from Federation University staff and students, and supporters, opposing recently announced cuts for the institution.

The rally took place on the steps of the Federation University-run Post Office Gallery with attendees pushing back against management’s proposed axing of about 200 jobs.

With more than 100 people estimated to have attended, the event was led by the National Tertiary Education Union FedUni sub-branch, whose president Dr Mathew Abbott said it was a successful display against the decision.

“It was a strong turnout of NTEU members, Fed Uni students, members of other unions, and a strong showing from the community including many parents concerned about the direction the university’s heading in,” he said.

“Speakers highlighted the problematic direction of Fed Uni and management’s poor record on dealing with revenue problems through vicious cost cutting that ends up exacerbating revenue problems the cost cutting was ostensibly designed to address.

“Management intends to cut nearly 20 per cent of the ongoing workforce. We don’t think our university can sustain cuts of that scale after year on year of mass redundancies.”

The proposed cuts were announced in March allegedly due to an $80 million loss in revenue as a result of shortages in international student intake over the past five years.

Dr Abbott addressed the audience with other NTEU representatives including FedUni branch industrial organiser Colin Muir, national president Alison Barnes, Victoria assistant secretary Ruth Jelley, and FedUni branch vice-president of academic staff Dr Verity Archer also speaking.

Member for Eureka Michaela Settle, ANMF organiser and Ballarat Trades and Labour Council president Cassia Drever Smith, and BTLC secretary Brett Edgington also delivered speeches.

Dr Abbott said the public campaign against the decision will continue.

“We have a NTEU members meeting on Tuesday next where we’ll plan and discuss next steps,” he said.

“We haven’t had any response and we’re really calling management now to come to the table and reach out to the NTEU to pause this process so other alternatives can be considered.”