CURTIN INDUSTRIAL ACTION
The Curtin Student Guild stands in solidarity with the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) Curtin Branch and its members as they undertake protected industrial action.
Staff have indicated that industrial action will take place over the coming weeks, and potentially months, as part of ongoing enterprise bargaining. The first major action will be a 24-hour strike on Monday 23 March, with further actions likely to follow.
This page explains what is happening, what it means for you, and where to go for support.
WHAT IS HAPPENING??
Curtin staff are taking lawful industrial action in pursuit of a fair enterprise agreement.
This action will include full-day strikes and other forms of disruption, which may impact normal university operations.
As a result, students may experience:
- Cancelled lectures, tutorials or labs
- Disruptions to scheduled teaching activities
- Reduced availability of staff and services
- Changes to unit delivery or timelines
The scale and timing of disruption may vary across Schools and Faculties and may change depending on the industrial action being taken.
Staff have been clear that they do not take this action lightly, but that stronger action is now necessary to resolve the dispute.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING??
Staff say that after more than six months of negotiations, Curtin management has not made meaningful progress on key issues.
Some of the main claims being pursued by staff include:
- Major improvements to academic workloads
- A clear and reasonable right for professional staff to work from home
- A fair pay offer in the context of rising cost-of-living pressures
Staff argue that excessive workloads reduce the time available to prepare lectures, mark assessments thoroughly, and provide quality feedback. They also say that insecure employment and declining real wages are making it harder for Curtin to retain experienced educators and professional staff.
These are not abstract workplace issues. Staff working conditions are student learning conditions.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR MY CLASSES?
Students may be impacted differently depending on their course and School.
You may see:
- Some classes cancelled
- Changes to scheduled teaching activities
- On-campus activities adjusted
- Different impacts on different days
In most cases, your School or enrolling area will contact you directly if there are changes.
We strongly recommend that you:
- Continue to attend your classes if they are running
- Check Blackboard and other unit communication channels
- Monitor your Curtin student email closely
Even where arrangements change, you should stay engaged so you do not miss important information.
HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY CLASS IS AFFECTED?
You should:
- Keep a close eye on your Curtin student email
- Check Blackboard and other unit communication channels
- Monitor messages from your School or unit coordinator
Communication is likely to come directly from your teaching area. Make sure you are checking regularly so you do not miss updates.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DISRUPTION?
Staff did not take industrial action during semester last year and have sought to resolve this dispute through bargaining.
The Guild’s position is clear: the responsibility for ensuring students are not disadvantaged rests squarely with Curtin University management.
Students should not bear the consequences of management’s failure to reach a reasonable agreement with its staff. If classes are cancelled, learning disrupted, or academic progress impacted, it is Curtin’s responsibility to ensure that students are not academically, financially or otherwise disadvantaged in any way.
Ultimately, only Curtin University management can bring this matter to a close by engaging in genuine negotiations and presenting a fair and reasonable offer.
The fastest way to restore normal campus operations and prevent further disruption is for Curtin to reach a fair agreement with its staff.
HOW CAN STUDENTS RESPOND?
First and foremost:
- Go to your classes if they are running
- Check your emails regularly
- Be patient and informed
We also ask students to be kind and respectful to university staff. Many staff are working hard to minimise disruption to students while exercising their lawful workplace rights. This is a challenging time for staff and students alike.
If you feel strongly about the issue, you are entitled to contact the University to share your views:
vc@curtin.edu.au
EBA-Administration@curtin.edu.au
WHERE CAN I GET SUPPORT?
The Guild is here to support you.
For general questions:
📧 hello@guild.curtin.edu.au
📞 1800 063 865 (free call)
For advocacy, advice or support with how this may affect you:
📧 student.assist@guild.curtin.edu.au
📞 1800 063 865 (free call)
University Support Services:
Safer Community Team (24/7)
📞(08) 9266 4444
📧 safercommunityteam@curtin.edu.au
Student Wellbeing Advisory Service
📞 1800 244 043 (free call)
📧 studentwellbeing@curtin.edu.au
Curtin Psychological and Counselling Service
📞 08 9266 7850
📧 counselling@curtin.edu.au
We will continue to update this page as more information becomes available.
Your education matters. So do the people who deliver it.
WHAT IS THE GUILD DOING?
The fastest and only genuine way to restore normal campus operations is for Curtin management to present a fair and reasonable offer to its staff.
The Guild is unequivocal: this dispute can end as soon as Curtin management reaches an agreement that delivers fair workloads, secure employment and reasonable pay. Improved staff conditions are improved student learning conditions.
We stand with the NTEU in their efforts to secure a fair deal and will continue working closely with them. At the same time, we are engaging directly with the University to make clear that students must not be disadvantaged as a result of management’s failure to reach agreement.
Students did not create this dispute. They should not carry the consequences of Curtin management’s failure to negotiate reasonably.
The Guild will continue to hold the University accountable and push for a fair resolution that protects staff, protects students, and restores stability to the academic year as quickly as possible.
Guild Statement