Get your own Free Home
PageDate: Friday, May 9, 1997 at 8:36:11 am AES
URGENT
May 9, 1997 8am.
Open letter to all staff members of the University of Melbourne.
Since 3pm on Thursday the 7th of May, university students have been occupying the Raymond Priestly building to protest the destruction of accessible public education in Australia. Students from Sydney University and the University of Adelaide are also occupying sections of their admin, following rallies by thousands of students and staff around the country in defence of publically funded education and against upfront fees.
Rally in support at 1pm, outside the Raymond Priestly Building today (Fri 9 May)
The students carrying this occupation demand the following:
1. That all tertiary education institutions in Australia abolish tuition (including ancillary fees).
2. That Melbourne University staff and staff of all other institutions be granted an immediate 15% pay rise not contingent on productivity increases, trading off conditions or up-front tuition fees.
3. That AUSTUDY, ABSTUDY and the dole be immediately raised to above the poverty line.
4. That all racist and nationalist policies restricting participation in education or access to income support be immediately repealed: including waiting periods for AUSTUDY and up-front HECS payments for non-residents.
5. That all forms of user-pays mechanisms for funding education be abolished and that the system be fully funded, and that institutions be student and worker controlled. We opposed the corporatisation, privatisation and commodification of education.
6. With regard to the upcoming Federal budget, this occupation demands that the Howard government take this opportunity to urgently redress the massive inequalities in the whole eductaion system - primary, secondary and tertiary, and take action to ensure accessible education, by targeting corporations and high income earners.
7. This occupation is fully aware that these demands are not achievable without massive struggle against the basis of the current economic system.
8. Particularly, we will not end this occupation until: Alan Gilbert convenes an open University Council meeting which rescinds the University's operational plan, particularly, - up-front fees - potential privatization of the University As you knoe, Melbourne University is at the forefrunt of the privatization of higher education, in particular the introduction of up-front fees.
The government has no mandate to introduce the changes it has made to the education system, and the Administration has refused to listen to staff and students, except by means of token 'consultation'. It has, and will continue, to ride roughshod over us, unless we fight back. The students occupying Melbourne University Admin and the staff acting in solidarity with them say : Enough is Enough. They protest the fact that 'politics' in Australian society and its institutions is in effect the shadow cast by big business over the community, and that corporate profit dictates education policy to the detriment of those who learn and those who teach.
Only by students and staff working together can we turn the tide on cuts to higher education and overturn the Howard government's agenda of making us all pay more and get less.
The student occupiers need your solidarity. Please support the campaign and occupation by :
1. Visiting the support vigil under the Raymond Priestly Building.
2. Attend the 1 pm rally today at the Raymond Priestly Building.
3. Encourage students to join the campaign
4. Express your opposition to upfront fees to University Management.
Get your own Free Home
Page