LTSU President and GenSec Speak on Latest Council Conundrum

Last week's LTSU council meeting began with unforeseen dissension as the General Secretary (GenSec) challenged the President for his chair position, resulting in the Council voting overwhelmingly in the GenSec’s favour. The meeting also saw a motion proposed regarding changes in Office Bearer (OB) pay, as well as an unexpected Socialist Alternative motion passing unanimously.

Rabelais reached out to the President and GenSec regarding these motions.

The LTSU GenSec, who spoke on a motion she intends to put to vote in the next council which would reverse changes made to OB pay at the beginning of the year, told Rabelais:

“Cutting Office Bearers' pay and not the Executives' is what we would criticise the University for. If John Dewar cut staff pay, the Union would push back. We should stand together as we see injustice, not actively encourage it.”

“This proposed change reverses changes that were made in January. January cuts gave Office Bearer’s a 20%-25% cut, and the Executive didn’t receive a single cut. This motion reverses that. The GenSec, Education Vice-President and Post Grad have offered to take a voluntary pay cut.”

The GenSec then spoke on previous push-back regarding these pay changes:

“I originally proposed changes back in January to the Executive, there was considerable push back from the Executive that these changes don’t go forward. Our Office Bearers' put so much work into bettering student lives, they deserve to be paid for it.”

The GenSec declined to comment on her decision to challenge the position of chair.

The LTSU president offered a different view on these pay changes:

“We discussed pay at the start of the year with Office Bearers and the Executive, considering expected hours of work and budget position. I don’t think it’s appropriate for the president to discuss pay with any external group. It is an internal matter that should be dealt with internally. Most organizations don’t discuss pay of employees.”

When asked on his reaction to the chair challenge, the president said that he:

“Didn’t quite expect that was going to happen. As has always happened in unions the president chairs the Council meetings. When the motion was called I was surprised, however whatever the council decides is what I will go by. The Council decided they didn’t want me to chair the meeting, and it is not my position to question that. I was disappointed though as I did want to chair the meeting.”

He then went on to discuss the motion proposed by Socialist Alternative council members,

“I am incredibly committed to combatting antisemitism at La Trobe. The motion was dropped on me at the meeting with no time to consider beforehand. It’s a joke that they didn’t distribute the motion before the meeting without talking beforehand. Most policy is discussed with the president; I don’t know how Council is supposed to consider policy with that little notice. Didn’t even have the chance to read it properly before voting on it.”

The seventh LTSU council meeting will be held on the 17th August at 1 pm. If you wish to attend, be sure to follow the La Trobe University Student Union on Facebook for zoom-link updates.