Armadillo scab

I’ve just posted the following announcement on the websites for the undergraduate units I’m teaching this semester at CDU:

Tomorrow’s classes are still on, notwithstanding the strike. I certainly support strongly the principle of academic independence, and strongly oppose government proposals to force universities to move away from tenure and towards contract-based employment of academics. However, since the legislation hasn’t passed the Senate yet (and probably never will absent a double dissolution election), let alone been implemented by CDU, the strike seems to me to be grossly premature.

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cs
cs
2025 years ago

Don’t know what’s happening up there Ken, but the union notified us yesterday that the strike at UNSW has been called off … rallies etc still to go ahead, but so will classes (alternative arrangements are being made for those that fall between noon and 2pm).

cs
cs
2025 years ago

Oh, and you’re a disgrace … by the way.

Dave Ricardo
Dave Ricardo
2025 years ago

I thought the Johnny Howard government was in favour of employers and employees negotiating mutually beneficial outcomes in the workplace, without interference from third parties.

In fact, I thought Johnny himself has spent a large part of his career promoting that very same principle. Isn’t the Workplace Relations Act, the Johnny Howard Government’s finest achievement (sic[k]), based on said principle?

If so, why is the Government, a third party, interfering?

All very strange, no?

Anyway, Ken, a few questions to you.

Are you a member of the NTEU?
Have you ever gone on strike at any time in your life?
Would your students notice if you did go on strike?

Ken Parish
Ken Parish
2025 years ago

Dave,

I’m not a current member of the NTEU but have been in the past. I have participated in strike action previously (though a long time ago – I’ve been self-employed for 20 years until fairly recently). The reason I posted the website notice was that students had specifically asked at last week’s lectures whether my classes would be on this Thursday, because they were concerned not to miss out on important lectures late in the semester with final exams looming. So I guess the answer to your sarcastic question is that they WOULD notice. I promised I’d post a notice when I’d given the issues more thought and made up my mind. If there was a real and even vaguely imminent prospect of Howard’s reforms actually being introduced, I would certainly participate in strike action.

EvilPundit
2025 years ago

Are there still unionists in Australia?

How quaint.

Geoff Honnor
Geoff Honnor
2025 years ago

Sounds like a realist’s approach to me Ken. You could of course wear the ever fashionable Harry Quick white armband for added dissident chic but given it’s the tropics and short-sleeved shirts and everything, it could end up being a bit of a daggy look – though writing “no surrender” in Latin on the armband could be a nice touch.

I wouldn’t even consider the Stott-Despoja white ribbon. People might think you were a lightweight.

James Russell
James Russell
2025 years ago

Strike? There’s a strike? Is it going to affect TAFE students, or just the universities?

cs
cs
2025 years ago

Just universities James, I think.

bargarz
2025 years ago

My, it didn’t take long for the slings and arrows to come out did it?

I feel a chill wind blowing…

James Russell
James Russell
2025 years ago

Hmm, so I still have TAFE tomorrow. Well, I have to go past UTS so I may see some of the picket action anyway. Actually I hope TAFE is on, cos I’ll be pissed if I got up and went into town for nothing…

Rob Schaap
2025 years ago

Guess ‘support’ means different things to different people …

Ken Parish
Ken Parish
2025 years ago

Rob,

I guess that’s true. I support the right to strike of those going out today, but my personal view is that they’re acting prematurely, and so I choose not to join them on this occasion. My decision will be different if a time comes when the threat is somewhat more imminent than it presently appears. Mind you, I think it would be necessary to step up industrial pressure before universities enter into funding agreements with the Commonwealth involving commitments to move towards greater contract-based employment. Once that occurs, it’s arguably too late because universities will be obliged to hold out for alterations to existing enterprise bargains as they fall due for renewal. Thus any industrial action at that late stage is likely to prove futile.

bargarz
2025 years ago

Ken you sly old dog you. Loved the inclusion of the “I” word.

Robert
2025 years ago

At least you didn’t deliberately move assessments to today, in order to provide a defense for scabbing, as some Murdoch lecturers have apparently done.

Robert
2025 years ago

Whoops. I should have said “reportedly” rather than “apparently”.

Anthony
Anthony
2025 years ago

“Allegedly” is the word of choice, I believe.

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