Senior management at La Trobe University are proposing severe changes to the structure of degrees, coursework and student services. These include changes to ‘Course Architecture’, ‘Course Optimisation,’ and restructures to Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Portfolio Staff, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, La Trobe Rural Health School, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Information Services Staff. These eight proposals are part of the same attack on the quality of education and on the proper governance of La Trobe, made by Theo Farrell, Jess Vanderlelie, and Rob Pike. The changes pose a severe risk to the University’s reputation, enrollments, accreditation and medium- to long-term financial position.In some cases, changes to Honours degrees may mean that students studying Honours at La Trobe do not qualify for La Trobe’s own PhD degrees. In terms of student services,  Courses and subjects are being cut across the entire university, giving students less choice about what they study. Senior academics are being made redundant and replaced by junior academics. Some staff are concerned that the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Arts will become untenable in several years if these changes go ahead. La Trobe is dismantling the team of experts who provide assistance to students with a disability, replacing some of their functions with generic student services staff. Staff cannot understand how massive restructures and cuts will help La Trobe, because their rationale is unclear. Nor has Senior Management explained why these changes must be implemented so hastily. Students have not been consulted. They have been forced to organise their own meeting to demand that Senior Leadership explain these changes to them. Staff have expressed wide and deep concerns about the adverse effects of these changes. Senior leadership have ignored or dismissed these views.  Vice Chancellor Theo Farrell has been in the job for less than twelve months. If these 8 changes are part of his vision for La Trobe, we reject his pessimistic view and embrace one that respects and values the expertise of staff and students. 

Medical librarians are highly skilled and specialized Allied Health Professionals who deserve to be treated with respect. The plan to transition the library to an infrastructure-only service (focused on e-resources, document delivery, and interlibrary loans) is short-sighted and disregards the valuable contributions of these dedicated workers. We, the undersigned, demand RMH reverses this decision and takes immediate steps to support Medical Librarians and all Victorian patients by committing to maintain the essential library service.

Tasmanian workers shouldn't be left behind. They deserve to be paid the same as workers on the mainland who do the same job as them. Help support wage justice for Tasmanian workers.

The future of TAFE is at a critical juncture. With the increased demand created by Fee-Free TAFE, we must ensure that TAFE teachers and staff receive the funding and support they need to provide quality vocational education to everyone.

We all know that animal rescues, foster groups and shelters across Australia are struggling to keep up with demand.  The 20 foster care networks supporting the Campaspe Animal Shelter are already stretched to their limits. Bendigo and Shepparton services, and their foster networks, are also at capacity. Removing adoption services will push these networks to breaking point, risking the collapse of animal care in our community. This plan is a recipe for disaster for shelter staff, who will be forced to face the emotional trauma of putting down healthy animals. Campaspe Shire is ignoring its duty to provide a safe and supportive workplace, and this will lead to staff burnout and turnover. The ASU is disappointed that Council has failed to genuinely consider the psychosocial impact of this change.  The people of Campaspe value compassionate care for animals. This proposal is a betrayal of that trust, and it will spark outrage across the community. The Shire is abandoning its responsibility to treat animals humanely, and the public won’t stand for it.  Council has not complied with its obligations under the Local Government Act 2020 to engagement with the community around the proposed changes. The Act says that councils must engage authentically with the community when making decisions like this.    Campaspe Shire has invested heavily in upgrading the shelter’s facilities, only to now threaten to undo all that progress. This proposal is a step backward, and it’s time for the community to rise up and demand better. The ASU calls on the local community to speak out against this disastrous plan.  If you work at Council, join the ASU today https://www.asuvictas.com.au/join 

Our hospitals rely on support services to keep running. If we don't have enough cleaners, infections in the hospital increase. If we don't have enough storepersons, the hospital runs out of medical supplies. If we don't have enough wardspersons, patients can't move around the hospital. Staffing levels are already dangerously low in Western Sydney. Allowing HealthShare to take over these jobs will only make things worse for our community.

To help bring a fair pay upgrade to the covid class of 2020. 

Australia's geography means our communities - regional and urban - depend on reliable, well-functioning airlines. Our citizens' ability to travel between cities and regional towns must not be dependent on market conditions or the whim of airline owners. If the Federal Government owned a stake in Rex - and appointed a "Safe and Secure Skies" Commission as an independent regulator as the Transport Workers Union have long called for - airline workers and the flying public would have a meaningful say in the decisions that impact our travel and our lives.  Regional communities rely on Rex. In many cases it is the only airline that goes to a range of small country towns. The Federal Government needs to consider buying an equity stake or outright purchasing the airline to ensure our regional communities aren't left behind without connections to major cities and other regional communities. Victorian, SA, NSW and Queensland Premiers have already voiced their support for Federal Government intervention to ensure Rex continues to operate. The Government needs to act now to save the airline and their hundreds of workers facing redundancy!

Many of us have been working at Pernod Ricard for over 10, 20, even 30 years. Over the last year, we have felt the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis. We are falling behind other worksites that are doing the same job. The company doesn’t value the work that we do. We are worrying about whether or not we can afford to pay our mortgages and rent.  We took such a small wage increase during COVID, while the industry was booming. Now CPI has gone up almost 16% and our wages have only gone up a mere 7%! So while our wages have been going backwards, Pernod Ricard has made a staggering global profit of $5.6 billion in 2023, and the global CEO himself pocketed $3.7 million in 2022. They are a global company who made a huge profit last year. All we want is for the company to look after us and give us secure jobs for the future. This short-term, low wage deal from Pernod Ricard during this cost-of-living crisis isn’t going to cut it. We are calling on all members of the public and our regional communities to support our action for a fair wage increase and secure jobs.

Journalists at Nine Publishing (The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, Brisbane Times and WAtoday) are being asked to do more for less. They are taking a stand for newsrooms that reflect the diversity of the communities they are reporting for, for ethical and transparent use of Artificial Intelligence, for a fair deal for freelance contributors, and for better wages. As members of the public, we must support workers taking action for better pay and conditions, but also in the face of the rapidly changing landscape for our right to factual journalism.

Local governments across Australia are facing a severe funding crisis. This threatens the quality of local services and the livelihoods of over 200,000 local government workers.  Local government matters—more funding means better services and jobs. To continue delivering their important work, local governments need to be properly resourced. It’s crucial for the health of our communities and the well-being of our local government workforce.  It's time to support our local governments to build stronger, more resilient communities. The workers our communities rely on deserve good, secure jobs.  Take action now! Sign our petition to urge the Government to boost funding to local government. Together we can secure stronger communities for all Australians by ensuring our local services are properly funded and the critical workforce is properly paid and supported.  Join us in championing a fair funding model for local governments. Your signature can drive change and help sustain the vital services that keep our communities thriving. Sign the petition today! 

Group Operations staff deserve to be comfortable at work. We are subject to fluctuating temperatures and often marshal aircraft in cold, damp, and rainy conditions. Providing cardigans will ensure we can remain warm and add a level of protection against dampness and rain. Uniforms are not just a fashion statement; cardigans are a matter of common sense for our health and safety. We call on Jetstar to immediately provide cardigans to all ground operations staff.