Best wishes for the festive season

From the NTEU Victorian Division

The officers and members of the Victorian Division of the National Tertiary Education Union hope that you and your loved ones enjoy a safe and happy festive season, and share a fruitful 2010.

Like many in our community, we at the NTEU will take some time to contemplate what we can do to help the disadvantaged in the community and around the world.

NTEU Victorian State Secretary Matthew McGowan has recorded a short statement about the National Day of Action on 16 September. In Victoria, RMIT and Melbourne University are going on strike on Wednesday 16 September to try to get university senior management to conclude collective bargaining.

You can find out what is happening at Melbourne and RMIT here.

Matthew McGowan’s statement has been uploaded to the ABC Contribute website, as part of their Soap Box program.

FW: NTEU Lunch – Eagle Bar – Wednesday 16 September @ 12pm – National Day of ActionLUNCH INVITATION – THIS WEDNESDAY – BUNDOORA

DATE:  Wednesday, 16 September 2009
TIME:  12:00pm onwards
WHERE:  Eagle Bar, Bundoora Campus
RSVP:  Bring or buy your own lunch, and we will put a tab on the bar for NTEU members.

Dear NTEU members,
On Wednesday 16 September 2009 many NTEU Branches around the country will be striking in support of their new collective agreements.

At La Trobe, after members voted overwhelmingly to authorise taking industrial action if needed, negotiations have been much more productive and we believe we are at last close to finalising a proposed agreement for members to consider.

So in unity with our colleagues around the country who will be on strike we have decided to ask members to join the NTEU La Trobe Branch Committee for lunch in the Eagle Bar this Wednesday.  It will be a relaxed get-together and we will provide a brief update on where we are with negotiations.

Please RSVP so we know how much money we should put on the tab for the bar.

For our members in the regional campuses we will organise separate meetings/functions over the coming weeks.

All members are encouraged to send a message of support to colleagues who will be on strike on Wednesday.  In Victoria colleagues at Melbourne University and RMIT will be on strike.  Visit http://universitybargaining.com.au/ to post your message or email nteu@latrobe.edu.au and the Branch will pass it on.

Kind regards,

Virginia Mansel Lees
Branch President