Academic, general and casual staff took part in the national strike, organised by The National Tertiary Education Union to push for improved pay and working conditions. Other universities also took action.

The union's University of Wollongong branch president Kim Draisma said the NTEU had been involved in collective bargaining with university management for almost a year, but agreements had still not been reached on issues such as workloads, increased casualisation of staff and pay.

"There's a huge level of dissatisfaction on the part of the staff," she said.

"We've had nearly 90 people enrol in the NTEU in the last few weeks, which shows the strength of feeling."

Wollongong Undergraduate Students' Association president Hailey Sutton said the WUSA office closed for the day to show support for the NTEU, and many students kept away for the same reason.

"The campus was completely dead," she said. "Most classrooms I saw were empty."

But Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Operations) Professor John Patterson said the strike had a minimal impact on classes and services yesterday, and less than 20 per cent of the university workforce had taken industrial action.

"It is noteworthy that a recent staff survey across all faculties and divisions (involving a participation rate of 83 per cent), conducted by consultants on behalf of the university, indicated a level of appreciation of the working conditions afforded employees," Prof Patterson said.

"Staff received a 4 per cent wage rise this year and the university is considering its budgetary position for 2010 which includes reviewing possible future wage increases and filling increased numbers of positions."