Established 1965 Date founded 1965 | Members c. 14000 Motto live uni life | |
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Institution Australian National University Location ANU Union, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200 Affiliations Australasian Campus Union Managers' Association Parent organization Australian National University | ||
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.
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Overview
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.
Membership
All students of the University are automatically ANU Union members. Membership is also open to ANU staff and graduates.
Purpose
The objects of the Union are:
- to provide a recognised meeting place and social centre for its members;
- to promote the intellectual, social and general welfare of the University community, and
- actively to encourage and support all ANU clubs and societies which include members of the Union.
Union Business Operations
The ANU Union's catering and retail operations are managed by its General Manager Rod Thomas. Union run businesses include:
Board of Directors
The Union Board is the governing body of the ANU Union.
Former Members of the Board
Prominent former members of the ANU Union's Board of Directors include:
Acton Supermarket closure
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.
Governance concerns
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.
Union Court Redevelopment
The Union Building is scheduled to be demolished with the Union Court Redevelopment. As the University has announced an intention to directly manage all commercial tenancies in the redeveloped buildings, ANU Union may be dissolved in coming years.