A wages dispute between two Canberra universities' management and a variety of unions resulted in major disruptions, people being injured, and garbage being piled up on one campus on this day in 1995.
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Four University of Canberra unions agreed to ban computer back-ups associated with pay, any work associated with certifying a 2 per cent pay increase deal, and limit the supply of photocopy paper on the campus.
Two people were cut by broken glass at the university, with garbage littering its main concourse and paths. The Australian National University also saw disruptions to its mail and maintenance services and research projects, as well as delays to exams because of the union action.
"The acting president of the University of Canberra Students Association, Renee Brooks, said students resented being used as a 'lobbying force' in the dispute and many had been stressed to the point of tears," a story on the front page of The Canberra Times said.
"'The students have been put in a really bad position in that the campus is a disgraceful mess. There's broken glass, food scraps and just general rubbish all up and down the concourse,' she said."