Around 2,000 University of Sydney staff walked off the job on Wednesday, joining a 24‑hour strike previously agreed by union members. The action was triggered by an internal survey in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences that recorded zero percent confidence that the university would act in the best interests of staff, students and the wider community. Staff cited mistrust, concerns over artificial‑intelligence safeguards, workload fairness and job security as the main drivers of the walkout.
From 7 a.m., roughly 500 workers formed picket lines at each entrance of the inner‑city campus, displaying flags, banners and using megaphones. The university warned that “almost all” scheduled classes would shift online, with some sessions being rescheduled or cancelled. Union leaders, including NTEU branch president Peter Chen and NSW division secretary Vince Caughley, criticised management for rejecting union proposals on AI protections and for prioritising commercial interests over due‑diligence. They described higher education as a “canary in the coal‑mine” for AI’s broader economic impact.
The university’s spokesperson said discussions with the union were ongoing and called the industrial action premature. While acknowledging the need for a human‑centred approach to AI, the university argued that many union demands could be addressed through policy changes rather than amendments to the Enterprise Agreement. The dispute occurs amid broader sector concerns such as growing class sizes, new teaching‑only roles and declining student satisfaction.
Student Representative Council members also picketed in solidarity, condemning recent protest restrictions as “draconian.” Despite campus security and police presence, the picket atmosphere remained lively, with music, drums and fundraising activities, reflecting the participants’ commitment to protecting the quality of education and research at the institution.
