David Brophy has been elected Vice President (Academic Staff) and Jennifer Dowling has been elected Vice President (General Staff) of the USyd National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) Branch.

It's important that we push towards a broader academic democracy — one where the people whose lives hang in the balance of university decision-making get the most say in how universities are run.

NTEU members voted in favour of a 48-hour strike in Week 10 after University management failed to meet core union demands on preserving research time, secure employment for casuals, and a real pay rise.

Staff and students appeared at several USyd Open Day lectures to protest and discuss the importance of improving staff working conditions.

The vote will occur next Tuesday at the NTEU USyd branch meeting.

The union’s motion to increase their wage claim to the CPI plus 2.5 per cent per year responds to skyrocketing costs of living.

The NTEU’s third strike this month comes just after the University revealed its $1.04 billion surplus yesterday.

The strikes represent a step forward in the NTEU’s enterprise bargaining negotiations.