The Curtin Student Guild stands in solidarity with the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) Curtin Branch as members undertake protected industrial action from 16 February.
The action is a ban on attending the physical campus, not a ban on teaching. Academic staff have sought to continue delivering classes online to minimise disruption. However, Curtin management has refused to accept online delivery from staff participating in the action. As a result, classes are likely to be cancelled across all Faculties.
Guild President Dylan Storer said staff had made genuine efforts to protect students from disruption.
“Curtin staff have tried to continue teaching online while exercising their lawful rights. It is deeply disappointing that management would rather see classes cancelled than allow that to happen,” Mr Storer said.
The dispute follows more than six months of bargaining. Staff are seeking improved academic workloads, secure employment, work from home rights for professional staff and a fair pay offer in the context of rising cost of living pressures.
“Staff working conditions directly shape student outcomes. When workloads are excessive and job security declines, students receive less feedback, less support and less time from their educators,” Mr Storer said. “Students should not carry the consequences of Curtin management’s inability to listen to its staff and improve conditions for both staff and students.”
The Guild’s position is clear: responsibility rests squarely with Curtin management to ensure that students are not disadvantaged in any way as a result of this dispute, and to bring it to an end through an agreement that strengthens working conditions, protects student learning, and improves our University for the future.
The Guild has published a dedicated Industrial Action webpage with FAQs and updates for students. Students are encouraged to monitor their Curtin email and School communications.
Curtin Industrial Action
For support, students can contact hello@guild.curtin.edu.au or student.assist@guild.curtin.edu.au, or phone 1800 063 865.