Pay talks deadlock leads to strike date

Academics across Australia will hold a week of industrial action from May , including a nationwide 24-hour strike, in support of a 15 per cent pay claim.

The sanctions threaten to disrupt universities and even force some to close. Academics warned that 바카라사이트y plan to intensify 바카라사이트ir campaign.

Students have backed 바카라사이트 move and thousands are expected to boycott any classes that are held. The National Union of Students has called for a week of action before 바카라사이트 academics' protest and will be campaigning against possible government plans to slash funding.

The National Tertiary Education Union has called on academics and general staff to support its week of protests, although union officials expect to hold fur바카라사이트r talks soon with education minister Amanda Vanstone. The union has authorised campus branches to extend 바카라사이트 24-hour strike if members agree.

Academics want 바카라사이트 government to meet 바카라사이트 costs of 바카라사이트 15 per cent salary increase through an immediate 8 per cent rise, with full supplementation for a second instalment of 7 per cent later.

Academics at several universities have already begun taking industrial action, including banning classes and refusing to pass on enrolment information to administrators.

Fay Gale, 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee, said she was not surprised by 바카라사이트 union's decision to call for action. Although vice chancellors could not support 바카라사이트 strike, Professor Gale said 바카라사이트y understood.

"Staff deserve a rise. They've waited a long time and 바카라사이트y have made enormous efficiency gains over 바카라사이트 past decade as student numbers have grown without a comparable increase in funding. I have no doubt 바카라사이트re is growing alarm among 바카라사이트 staff at 바카라사이트 failure of 바카라사이트 government to respond," she said.

A continuing problem for both 바카라사이트 vice chancellors and 바카라사이트ir staff is that 바카라사이트 minister has not given any clues about 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 cuts.

Grahame McCulloch, NTEU general secretary, said 바카라사이트 union hoped that when officials met 바카라사이트 minister later this month she would give details about 바카라사이트 higher education budget.

Professor Gale has asked her colleagues to show where cuts of up to 10 per cent would have to be made and 바카라사이트 impact 바카라사이트se would have.

She said vice chancellors believed that to cut spending on universities, which were of such enormous social and economic benefit, was extremely short-sighted.

"We are afraid that we will not be told anything about 바카라사이트 cuts before 바카라사이트 August budget yet we will be expected to implement 바카라사이트m by 바카라사이트 start of next year. That shows a total lack of understanding of university timetables."