Dear Members
Happy Lunar New Year. May you have an abundant year.
All members meeting – 1pm, 14 March 14
We are holding an all-members’ meeting at 1pm on 14 March. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss our strategy for 2024 and to call for volunteers to help carry it out. The meeting will be hybrid, an in-person location and the agenda will be provided in the next bulletin.
Bendigo social catchup
Following a successful social catchup in Bundoora last week, we will have a social catchup at the Bendigo campus on Thursday 29th Feb from 11am to 12:30pm. We’ll meet in the Student Union.
Motion on Palestine
The Branch Committee passed the following unanimous motion on Friday.
- The La Trobe NTEU Branch Committee reiterates solidarity with the Palestinian people.
- We call for an immediate ceasefire, for Israel to end its siege of Gaza, and for food, water, electricity, and medical supplies to be provided to Gaza.
- We condemn Israel's actions of damaging and destroying all twelve of Gaza's universities, including by controlled demolitions, and the killing of over 100 Gazan academics, and thousands of Palestinian students.
- We call on the Australian Government to immediately reinstate funding to the UNRWA.
- We call on the Australian Government to immediately block arms exports that may be used to kill civilians in Palestine.
- We encourage members to amplify the above calls by joining union members taking action for Palestine and writing or calling the following politicians:
- Anthony Albanese: https://www.pm.gov.au/contact
- Penny Wong: https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/contact-foreign-minister
- Richard Marles, Defence Minister: [email protected], 03 5221 3033.
ASU action
ASU members in the social and community services sector are holding a lunchtime walkout for Palestine at 1pm on 22 February. Their rally will start at VCOSS, 128 Exhibition Street, and will march to the Federation of Community Legal Centres at Bourke Street.
If you’d like to be involved in the La Trobe Palestinian solidarity campaign, please contact Michael Graham (0481 967 906) or Ruthie Hambling (0468 393 763). In the meantime, we hope to see some of you at the NTEU contingent at the State Library Sunday rallies for Palestine. Look for purple flags.
Branch Elections
Elections will take place later this year, probably towards the middle. All positions at the Branch will be open. We will keep you informed of how to nominate for positions on the Branch.
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Member profile
We’re going to try to include a profile of a member in each bulletin. Today we have our NTEU Vice President (Academic), Emily Foley.
Who are you?
I’m Emily, and I’m a lecturer in the Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy in Bundoora. I have recently submitted my PhD where I focused on the Australian Labor Party and temporary labour migration. I’ve worked at La Trobe since 2019, but I have studied at La Trobe since 2013 where I completed both my undergraduate and honours degree. My relationship with La Trobe actually goes way back to my childhood where I attended the LTU community children’s centre!
Why unionism?
I’m an early career academic who has seen the transformation of Australian universities and the consequences on workers’ rights and conditions. It is through being active in our union that I have been able to develop connections with my fellow workers and feel a sense of hope and motivation through collective action. Together, we are the union and I’m looking forward to building power with you to ensure that our rights and conditions are improved and protected.
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Reminder of previous notices
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