GREEDY UNION TARGETS STUDENTS

The ALSF has today slammed the National Tertiary Educator’s Union’s (NTEU) decision to withhold end of year results from Curtin and Murdoch University students as part of industrial action.

 “It is a shame that tutors and lecturers are using thousands of students as bargaining chips. This issue is between employees and their employer and it is the height of unprofessionalism to directly target students as a negotiation tactic.” ALSF President Alex Butterworth said today.

“Many students depend on the swift release of their results to apply for post-graduate studies or employment positions. Claims by NTEU that this selfish action will not disadvantage students are simply untrue.”

“Despite Student Guild support for the strike actions, the majority of students do not support having their marks unnecessarily withheld.”

“No students should be expected to put up with union militancy.”

President of WA Union of Liberal Students, Cam Sinclair said students who were particularly prone to stress and anxiety at exam time would be the hardest hit by strike action.

“The end of semester is a tough time for all students. The NTEU holding exam and course marks ransom for bargaining purposes will exacerbate anxiety and make things unnecessarily difficult for thousands of affected students. I expect external and international students will especially feel the brunt of this strike action,” Mr Sinclair said.

“I call on educators at Murdoch and Curtin to consider the impacts on students before they exploit their vulnerability for selfish gain. This is a prime example of big guys standing over the little guys” said Mr Sinclair.

The Murdoch branch of NTEU is demanding an 18 per cent pay increase over 3 years in addition to reduced workloads and further benefits. This comes after a 4 per cent annual pay rise and $1000 bonus for Murdoch University staff. Curtin NTEU members are demanding pay rises of 20 per cent over three years. It said the university had offered 18 per cent over four years.

Students currently sitting exams will be adversely impacted by the refusal to release results.

Media Enquiries:

Alex Butterworth
+61 418 264 020
abutterworth@alsf.org.au
www.alsf.org.au

Articles available:

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/6466778/murdoch-staff-withhold-results/

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/6471367/curtin-bans-release-of-students-results/

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