NTU students fight cuts
DARWIN — Around 70 students attended an urgent lunchtime meeting at the Northern Territory University on July 24 in response to cuts to the ceramics, sculpture and English departments. The meeting was attended mainly by affected arts students, lecturers and the newly formed Friends of English.
The vice-chancellor also attended, but failed to answer directly questions from angry students. Students became angrier when it was revealed that the VC had arranged for the doors to the strategic planning board meeting the same day to be locked, and for hired private security to prevent anyone other than two student union representatives attending. The Education Action Group has called its next meeting for July 31 at 10am in the NTU Student Union.
Direct action calendar
Friends of the Earth is seeking photos for its 1998 Direct Action Calendar, picturing people involved in direct action resistance issues from all parts of Australia — uranium, forests, land rights, mining, tourism development, media subversion, critical mass, privatisation, etc.
Send colour or black and white photos (with a description of the campaign, names of people in the photo and the date); and any special events or dates that could be included in the calendar, by August 15 to: John Hepburn, FoE, PO Box 989, Toowong Qld 4066.
Teachers' assistants resist pay cuts
PERTH — A July 25 mass meeting of teachers' assistants decided to resist the state Education Department's proposed pay cuts of up to $2 per hour. The well-attended meeting of Miscellaneous Workers Union members expressed disgust at the department's backtracking on its April agreement to a slight pay rise.
Discussion at the meeting expressed the importance of linking up with teachers, school administrations and parents to win community support. The meeting decided to take the dispute to the Industrial Relations Commission rather than take immediate industrial action.