Rank-and-file action are a group of union members at Sydney University. We want to see our national leadership reflect the kind of organising and activity we’ve seen at USYD. This means supporting a real pay rise, deepened industrial democracy, and support for social issues.
Support Dani Cotton for National Councillor (Academic Staff)
Vote [1] Dylan Griffiths for National Councillor (General Staff)
Vote [1] to [5] for National Committee:
[1] Riki Scanlan,
[2] Dylan Griffiths,
[3] Wanyi (Wendy) Xin,
[4] Matte Rochford, and
[5] Luke Alexander
See our full How-To-Vote here.
For National Councillor (Academic Staff)
Support Dani Cotton
I’m Dani Cotton, a casual academic in the arts faculty. I’ve been heavily involved with our union since I started working here, standing up on wage theft, conversion rights, and casual issues in general, and during enterprise bargaining.
For National Councillor (General Staff)
Vote [1] Dylan Griffiths
I’m Dylan Griffiths, a Higher Degree by Research administration worker in Student Administration Services. I joined the NTEU in 2015. Between 2016 and 2018 I worked for the union at the Western Sydney University branch, helping lead its industrial campaign and bargaining round. Our industrial action gained new job security pathways for academic casuals and sector-leading workload clauses for Professional staff. I assisted in disputes that went to Fairwork and won, initiated successful conversion cases for fixed term staff, organised around workplace change, and recruited large numbers of members.
For National Council
Vote [1] Riki Scanlan
I’m Riki Scanlan. I’m working as a casual tutor in Political Economy, as well as a participant in that eternal purgatory known as ‘completing a PhD.’ I want your support for National Councillor because the NTEU needs a grassroots and left-wing campaign to pressure the Albanese government into taking action.
An Albanese government is both an opportunity and a hurdle. It’s an opportunity because we can pressure Labor in ways that we can’t pressure the Liberals. It’s a hurdle because, all too often, the union movement has receded and retreated during Labor governments, hoping that the ALP will just deliver good policy. We know how Labor has failed our sector in the past, and that’s why we need to set a strategic vision for how we’re going to win change.
For National Council
Vote [3] Wanyi (Wendy) Xin
I’ve been a member of the NTEU since I started working as a casual tutor in the Department of Philosophy in 2021. I’m actively involved in the union’s campaigns, especially the recent strikes. I participated in every stage of the strikes, from calling members about the protected action ballot, distributing leaflets on campus, having ongoing conversations to mobilise colleagues to join the strikes, to making picket signs, and being at the picket lines all day every day.
For National Council
Vote [4] Matte Rochford
Hi. I’m Matte, I’m an artist and union activist with a history of fighting for workers’ rights. I’m not shy about speaking up for my workmates, and with the fantastic strikes at Sydney University set to continue into Semester 2, I see no reason to stop!
For Ordinary Branch Committee Member
Vote [5] Luke Alexander
Dear comrades, my name is Luke Alexander, and I work as a full-time continuing teacher and teacher trainer at the Centre for English Teaching. I’ve been working in higher education since 2013, and in that time I’ve seen our sector from many different perspectives. I’ve worked as a casual academic, enduring wage theft. I’ve been a PhD candidate for a few years now, and I’ve seen the insecure academic job market impact the lives of those around me. Finally, I’ve worked as a full-time continuing teacher to international students, with ever increasing workloads, trying to help my international students as they navigate a system that sees them as cash cows as much as anything else.
Rank-And-File Action USYD 