Thousands of staff at the University of Sydney walked off the job on Wednesday in a strike addressing concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) use, job security, and workload fairness. Approximately 2,000 members of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) participated in the industrial action, which began at 7 a.m. with about 500 picketers at each entrance to the university’s inner Sydney campus. The strike disrupted campus activities, prompting the university to move nearly all scheduled classes online, with some sessions rescheduled or canceled.
The walkout followed the release of internal survey results revealing a deep lack of trust in university management. Notably, none of the respondents from the faculty of arts and social sciences agreed with the statement that they trusted the university to act in the best interests of staff, students, and the broader community. The union cited this trust deficit alongside ongoing disputes over protections against AI-driven changes in education, particularly the use of AI technologies in teaching and research roles.
Peter Chen, the University of Sydney NTEU branch president, criticized management for repeatedly refusing to implement adequate safeguards on AI deployment. He described higher education as "the canary in the coalmine," warning that the handling of AI in universities could set precedents for broader economic impacts. Vince Caughley, the NTEU’s New South Wales division secretary, emphasized that the university’s own green paper identified AI as the most significant transformation education has faced. He called for “best practice” and “due diligence,” cautioning against prioritizing commercial interests over educational integrity.
University management stated it was continuing negotiations with the union and considered the strike premature. A spokesperson affirmed the institution’s commitment to a human-centered ethical approach to AI, highlighting principles and safeguards developed in consultation with the university community. The university expressed support for many of the union’s objectives but preferred to address these through policy adjustments rather than embedding them into the Enterprise Agreement.
The current dispute comes amid broader sector-wide challenges, including increasing class sizes, declining student satisfaction, and proposals for teaching-only positions that exclude research components and career growth opportunities. Professor Laura Shepherd, part of the university’s bargaining team, stressed the importance of preserving quality teaching and access to leading researchers, noting students often invest substantial sums—up to $50,000—for their degrees.
The University of Sydney’s NTEU branch is the largest in Australia and has a history of activism. The strike also intersected with ongoing tensions surrounding the university's handling of pro-Palestine demonstrations and related protest restrictions introduced after a contentious encampment in 2024. The Student Representative Council joined the strike in solidarity, protesting what they described as the university’s “draconian” limitations on free speech and activism amid record-low student and graduate satisfaction rates.
Despite a significant security presence, the picket lines maintained a lively atmosphere, with chants, music, and fundraising efforts to support staff during industrial action. Professor Kurt Iveson, who has been with the university for two decades, expressed the desire for meaningful AI protections that ensure technology serves educational goals rather than dictating them. He said the strikers’ participation reflected their deep commitment to maintaining high standards in teaching and research.
Negotiations continue as both sides seek a resolution, but with bargaining nearing five months, the potential for further industrial action remains.