Curtin accused of censoring emails

THE academic union has launched Federal Court action against Curtin University of Technology over alleged censorship and blocking of union emails to staff.

THE academic union has launched Federal Court action against Curtin University of Technology over alleged censorship and blocking of union emails to staff.

"The emails which I have sent (to be forwarded to staff) have been measured and balanced comments on the university's proposal for restructuring courses, changes which will impact significantly on staff and students,'' said Jan Sinclair-Jones, president of Curtin's branch of the National Tertiary Education Union.

Dr Sinclair-Jones said some emails were not forwarded, while others came back with a request to remove parts of the message. She said it was an extraordinary move given Curtin was founded on principles of free speech.

She said Curtin was in breach of the collective agreement, which allows staff and union representatives "reasonable access'' to the email system. The union had spent the last 12 months trying to resolve the issue with Curtin, but had failed.

"The union has no choice but to prosecute the university to secure these rights," Dr Sinclair-Jones said.

Curtin's director of staff services Bill Ryan said the university never censored or blocked the NTEU's email correspondence with its members.

"Some broadcast emails from Dr Sinclair-Jones to all academic staff have been returned to her with a request that commentary and opinion be removed in accordance with the university's guidelines for use of this system," he said.

Curtin's email policy states that "comment or debate on issues" is not permitted in emails sent on the broadcast message system.

"The same rules apply to Dr Sinclair-Jones as to all other staff, as unsolicited global emails irritate and annoy many of those who receive them," Mr Ryan said.

Dr Sinclair-Jones said she had been told "you can't express a certain opinion. If I have said that I had grave concerns about a certain issue, they have said that is inappropriate."

Mr Ryan said the university would defend any court action.