RMIT teachers ‘heartbroken’ after they were denied entry to staff meeting for wearing union T-shirts

A group of RMIT vocational education teachers say they were unfairly targeted when they were denied entry to a staff town hall meeting after striking for fairer pay and reduced workloads.

RMIT vocational education teachers claim they were unfairly “targeted” after at least 12 were initially denied entry into a staff meeting for wearing National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) T-shirts.

The group were participating in a week of protected industrial action – which commenced on Monday – when they chose to attend a Vocational Education Town Hall meeting on Wednesday.

But upon trying to gain access to the meeting, a dozen teachers claim they were denied entry from security guards with video footage capturing part of the incident.

“We’re all teachers, we’ve been here for years,” one of the teachers initially denied access told security guards in the video.

“We’d like to quietly go in, we’ve been invited to this meeting and our other teachers are in there.”

RMIT staff back on the pickets again today....rain hail or shine we deserve better conditions and decent wages pic.twitter.com/bxm49wHeUz

— NTEU — RMIT Branch (@NTEU_RMIT) March 27, 2024

In response, a guard told the teacher he was following directions before questioning why the teacher was recording a video.

Meanwhile, in another video, staff were observed gaining access to the meeting while teacher Clare Strahan, who was dressed in a NTEU T-shirt, was made to wait outside.

“It breaks my heart to be shut-out of the building and treated like a threat for trying to attend a town-hall meeting that I was invited to,” she said.

“I’ve been at RMIT for over 15 years as both a student and a teacher. I’ve been a dedicated teacher and deserve better than this, as do the others affected.”

A source told the Herald Sun at least 12 staff who were visibly identifiable as being with the union were initially denied entry into the meeting.

After arguing with security and interventions by the NTEU, some were able to enter the meeting while others took off their T-shirts and entered through a different entry point.

Eventually most of the teachers were allowed access to the meeting, but it didn’t come without further complications for VE program co-ordinator Dr Tyler Payne, another NTEU member who was able to gain access via an alternative entrance after removing her union T-shirt.

“I was on my phone scrolling through the Fair Work Commission website trying to calm down and understand what had just happened when I realised the meeting had stopped and (College of Vocational Education Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice-President Mish Eastman) was asking if she was being filmed,” she said.

“I didn’t realise the question was directed at me until she addressed me directly by name. I replied that I wasn’t. I was stunned to have been targeted like that. I’m not conflict-averse, but it made me feel very uncomfortable. It felt very hostile.”

RMIT staff participating in strike action following 1000 days without a new enterprise agreement.

A spokeswoman from RMIT said all staff members, including union members, were encouraged to attend town hall events.

“RMIT respects NTEU members’ rights to take protected industrial action,” she said.

The incident occurred amid a week of industrial action following more than 1000 days of failed bargaining for a new pay deal between the university and union.

Lecturers, tutors, academics, administrative staff and other National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) members employed at the institution went on strike from 12.30pm on Monday, following failed negotiations for a decent pay rise, more job security and reduced workloads.

It was the longest strike in RMIT history following its conclusion at 11.59pm Thursday night – causing disruptions and some cancellations to student classes and reduced the number of some services available on campus.

NTEU secretary of the Victorian division Sarah Roberts told the Herald Sun last Friday, RMIT union members “upped the ante” in hope of coming to an agreement with university management.

“I’ve been bargaining since 2001 and I can’t recall a longer period of time since the expiry of an agreement,” she said.

“There’s been this absolutely intolerable delay in getting bargaining done (at RMIT) and that’s why we are at this extreme point of taking this week-long industrial action.”

The RMIT spokeswoman said the university is “committed to progressing bargaining in good faith as quickly and efficiently as possible to reach a positive outcome for our staff”.

“Our regular schedule of bargaining meetings will continue as we work hard to finalise our agreements and we will continue to keep our community updated on our progress,” she said.