By Tyrion Perkins
Following the University of Sydney senate vote to introduce up-front fees for some undergraduate places, the Sydney Morning Herald on April 23 announced that 600 staff positions may be axed over the next two years. Savings would pay for wage increases won by academic and general staff, for which the university says it has not set aside funds.
Students, academics and general staff held a joint meeting on April 23 to discuss what can be done. Around 300 people heard an outline of the attacks on education, beginning with the Labor Party's introduction of fees for international students in 1985. This was followed by the introduction of postgraduate fees, HECS, competition policy and illicit fees charged for other aspects of courses, through to the Liberals' decreases in government subsidisation, increases in HECS and now up-front fees.
Up-front fees will allow universities to trade government-funded places between them, creating a situation where the more established institutions will have a much higher proportion of fee-paying students, creating an elite layer of students who can afford this greater "prestige".
This attack will cause many divisions: between students and staff as fees are needed to fund staff salaries; between staff as they fight over who will lose positions; and between institutions as they fight over government funding and the number of fee-paying places.
The meeting emphasised the need for students and staff to work together because they can win only together. Representatives of the students, general staff unions and the NTEU addressed the meeting.
The lack of funding has already caused problems, as staff who leave have not all been replaced. Library and administrative work has piled up. Students have to wait in long queues for service. There is an increased student to staff ratio. Academic staff are expected take on increased teaching and research loads. Decisions are being made by deans without consulting the staff and students affected.
The meeting unanimously adopted a number of motions, including: to demand that the university commit itself to equity of access and to publicly owned and funded education; to oppose setting aside places for fees; for staff job security and to oppose retrenchments; for the university to consult with students and staff; and to support a national day of action for education on May 8.
The NTEU has called on its members to move classes scheduled on May 8 so that students and academics can attend the rally. The general staff unions are planning meetings to discuss what action they will take on the day.