PhD student left with grazed knees after being wrongfully denied entry to University

A PhD Candidate at the University of Sydney claims he was left with grazed and bloody knees after forcing his way through protesters blocking the Victoria Park entrance.

A PhD candidate at the University of Sydney claims he was left with grazed and bloody knees after forcing his way through protesters blocking the campus entrance.

George Boone says he “respectfully approached” the National Tertiary Educational Union (NTEU) strikers just before 11:15am at the university’s Victoria Park entrance and said, “I just want to go to school.”

“I kept saying I wanted to go to school. They said school was closed.”

Mr Boone said he quoted the union’s own picket protocol back to them, which reads, “if the staff member, student or visitor indicates that she or he still intends to enter the University, the picketers will allow the person to pass without further disruption.”

Mr Boone said the protesters refused to move and accused of him of “escalating” the situation.

USYD student George Boone grazed his knees crawling past protesters today. Supplied

“I tried to find a way through, and climb over some bushes, but they blocked me, I thought the only way to get through was to crawl.” He said.

The 39 year old claimed he got on his hands and knees, but the protesters “actively blocked” him as he tried to get through.

Mr Boone eventually broke the barrier but it cost him two bloody knees.

Despite his injuries, Mr Boone said he is “sympathetic” with the union’s cause.

“I’m not anti-protest, but I’ve got 4 months left on my dissertation and I need to get it done.”

In response to Mr Boone’s allegations, the NTEU said “at all times picketers should act in a peaceful and orderly manner and should not seek to threaten, intimidate or physically prevent individuals from entering the campus.”

Sydney University’s Picket Line protocol. Supplied

“The Sydney Uni strike was about protesting rampant levels of insecure work, exploitative casualisation and unfair pay at an organisation that posted a $1 billion surplus last year.”

Wednesday’s protests saw Sydney University students and teachers blockade multiple entrances to the campus.

Video obtained by The Daily Telegraph shows protesters with megaphones yelling “no-one in, no-one out, shut the uni down.”

In the footage one person is seen pushing through the picket line, at which point protesters yelled “Scab! Scab! Shame on you!”

Prostestors block the entrance to the University of Sydney’s Ross St entrance during a protest Picture: John Grainger

The protesters, who were first spotted causing disruption in Sydney about 7am on Wednesday morning, say they are “demanding an end to exploitative casualisation, preservation of academics’ right to conduct research, improved job-security, increased protections against overwork, and a pay rise above inflation”.

Sydney University said they “fully support the right of our staff to strike and protest but are disappointed the union has decided to continue with industrial action.”

Protesters from the NSW National Tertiary Education Union block the entrance to Sydney University. Picture: William Tyson

The University claimed it has “come to in-principle agreement in a number of areas, including improved flexible working clauses, enhanced professional staff workload clauses, provisions to provide better support for and recognition of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues and enhanced leave provisions.”

Students block the entrance to the University of Sydney at Ross St entrance during a protest. Picture: John Grainger

While most people walked past striking members, others broke through the chain out of anger.

The members were heard chanting, “No one in no one out, shut the uni down”, “NTEU you know what we’re here to do”, “turn around go away USYD is on strike today, who shut down the university, we shut down the university and “no one in, no one out, shut the Uni down,” as cars were turned away from the front gates.

The entrance to the University of Sydney at Ross St entrance was blocked. Picture: John Grainger

The protesters say they are expecting thousands of lecturers, tutors and support staff from the union to strike, meaning there will be no classes being taught, staff in libraries, meetings with students, emails answered and administrative and support work conducted.

The strike is set to continue for 24 hours in what will mark the fourth day of strikes from teaching staff since May.

Police have arrived at the University and are currently standing by at the entrances.