Staff at the University of Wollongong’s Bega campus have gone on strike to protest high rates of casual employment over permanent positions.
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The 24-hour strike began on Monday night, with students joining staff the next day at both the main campus in Wollongong as well as regional ones to protest the conditions.
Casual tutor Jodie Stewart claimed over 70 per cent of staff were casual across UOW and its campuses, which was one of the highest rates compared to other universities in Australia.
Campus lecturer Siobhan Wragg said in Bega there were 23 casual academic staff on 13-week contracts, three on permanent full time, part time or short contracts, as well as eight professional and support staff only three of which were on permanent contracts.
Ms Stewart has worked at the campus for six years. She said her 13-week contract finishes this week, which means she will not get paid again until March next year – if her courses were run again at all.
“A lot of us casual staff have a very slim Christmas,” she said.
“I’m lucky because I’m supported by a very generous partner, but a lot of staff have to take on a second job.”
Ms Stewart was concerned the lack of permanent contracts would impact on the quality of teaching UOW was able to provide.
“It’s very hard to make a career out of these casual contracts, so the uni is going to lose people,” she said.
“We don’t have holiday pay, we don’t have sick leave.”
First year nursing student at UOW Bega Mohammad Attar stood by his teachers at the campus on Tuesday.
“They are everything for us, they really support us and help us with everything,” he said.
“If there was no campus here I couldn’t study, I wouldn’t be able to travel as I have family.”
The protesters called for members of the community to contact MPs and UOW to demand more secure working conditions.
“We are here educating and providing a service to the community, so we think its an important issue,” Ms Stewart said.
UOW was contacted for comment.