Australian National University Union
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| Motto | live uni life |
|---|---|
| Institution | Australian National University |
| Location | ANU Union, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200 |
| Established | 1965 |
| Members | c. 14000 |
| Affiliations | Australasian Campus Union Managers' Association |
| Website | http://www.anuunion.com.au |
The Australian National University Union Incorporated (ANU Union), established in 1965, is a student-run amenities provider at The Australian National University. This is not to be confused with the Australian National University Student Association, which despite its name, is recognised as the University's Students' Union.
ANU Union's sole activity is to run catering and retail operations in the ANU Union building. Unlike its equivalents at other Australian universities, the Union is not involved in Orientation Week activities, administering a clubs and societies programme or coordinating social events.
All students of the University are automatically ANU Union members. Membership is also open to ANU staff and graduates.
The objects of the Union are:
The ANU Union's catering and retail operations are managed by its General Manager Rod Thomas. Union run businesses include:
The Union Board is the governing body of the ANU Union.
Prominent former members of the ANU Union's Board of Directors include:
In October 2007 the Board of Directors made a decision not to renew the license of the Acton Supermarket owned by Pijpers Holdings Pty Ltd. Board Chair Chris Steel claimed the decision was made on the basis of the continued viability of the Union's business operations which had suffered as a result of the Federal Government's Higher Education (Abolition of Upfront Student Union Fees) Amendment Act 2005 that had cut the Union's revenue by around $213 000 per annum. Under an alternative business model it was proposed that the ANU Union would incorporate a supermarket into its own retail operations.
The closure resulted in a Facebook group called 'Keep the ANU Supermarket' with over 1000 members. A petition with over 1500 signatures was also raised by the supermarket owners and made to ANU Vice-Chancellor Ian Chubb. The protesters claimed that the ANU Union would sell stock at higher prices than the independently run Acton Supermarket.
In May 2008 a new licensee of the Union opened a 3 store in the previous location of the Acton Supermarket and the ANU Union refurbished part of its own Union Shop to accommodate a new supermarket.
In recent years, students have expressed significant dissatisfaction over the governance of the Union. The Union operates at a loss, and elections are dominated by students who are affiliated with political parties and without the necessary retail or hospitality experience to run the organisation effectively.
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Wikipedia