It is often said, Wollongong is caught between its past and its future.
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Speak to people connected to the University of Wollongong and you get a strong sense they feel the university is the foundation block for the region’s future.
They feel the city has moved on from its manufacturing roots and the city’s future belongs in innovation and education.
On the other hand, the steelworks has certainly been the foundation block on which this great city and region has been forged. That can not be disputed.
Yet the steelworks also still continues to play a massive part in our local economy and remains a vital part of the fabric of this community.
Having said all that it is not often you see steelworkers and academics side by side and united for a fight.
Well, that is exactly what will happen next week, the Illawarra Mercury revealing exclusively workers from both of the region’s major employers will take simultaneous industrial action as a show of strength.
Academics from the University of Wollongong and BlueScope steelworkers will meet in the Wollongong Mall on Tuesday as part of a national union movement, Change the Rules.
South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris said it was hoped the unique industrial stance would send a strong message about the need for “wage justice and job security”.
UOW academics are fighting against the increasing trend of casualisation and short-term contracts in their workplace.
Steelworkers are fighting to get back some of the conditions they gave away in 2015 to keep the gates of the steelworks at Port Kembla open.
Undoubtedly the initiative will gain national attention.
Mr Rorris is most likely right in observing in some way everyone in the Illawarra is touched or connected to both the steelworks or the university. In this case, the region’s two giant workforces are joined at the hip.
