COVID-19 Update: USU to Close Most Retail Outlets
The University of Sydney Union (USU) has announced that it will close all its retail outlets from Monday April 6, with the exception of Footbridge Station, Snack Express and the USyd Store, as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In a media release, published today, the USU announced that the closure of the USU outlets means that the USU will have to stand some staff down.
USU President, Connor Wherrett, said that it was important for the financial viability of the USU to “make those tough decisions to shut [the outlets] down”.
Preliminary figures show that USU revenue for March “is down above 50%”, he said.
The SSAF capital and SSAF contestable funding has also been paused by the University meaning that the USU is “looking at what we can do to come out of the other side with a really thriving non-profit that can still continue to do the things that it wants to do”.
“The obvious thing is that if nobody is showing up to an outlet, we can't have that outlet open”.
The loss of revenue from the USU’s outlets is significant because it affects the capacity of the organisation to provide services. Wherrett explained that “every single dollar that we lose from Fisher Coffee Cart, is a dollar that we can’t spend on debating or revues or Pulp”.
The USU will support workers who have been stood down by providing them with a week of rostered shifts in pay and support in accessing the JobKeeper payment, which the USU intends to apply for. Regarding the jobseeker payment, Wherrett said that “based on all of the indicators so far the USU should be eligible”.
He added that while the mood among staff was “sad” the USU’s employees had been very understanding of the situation.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the USU has also paused recruitment and is taking actions to scale down business. This means that programs, such as the digital transformation of clubs will be put on hold.
Wherrett emphasised the importance of the USU maintaining independence from the university, but said that it would be surprising if the University did not offer assistance if the USU was facing extreme financial pressure.
The USU is responsible for club and society activities as well as campus festivals such as Pop Fest, Sustainability Week and Wellness Week. In response to COVID-19, the organisation plans to create virtual events using digitally based content. This will form part of what Wherrett refers to as “a digital universe of membership and belonging on campus”. The details of this “digital universe” are still in the planning stage.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, USU Board elections and campaigning will now take place online. Wherrett said that he hopes this is an opportunity for Board nominees to “use this time to reflect about what the purpose of the USU is”, rather than running campaigns on “coke in the bubblers wish lists of the little things that the USU could do”.
The USU is planning to use the same online voting system that ARC, UNSW’s student organisation, uses to conduct their Board election. Wherrett said that UNSW has been using these systems for 7 years, and that the system “is not perfect, but they haven’t had any major issues with regard to election fraud”.
The USU will be putting further safeguards in place to ensure the fairness of the Board elections. These include the provision of clear instructions about voting procedures, increasing scrutiny of nominees and imposing a deadline, Friday 15 May, by which you must be a USU member to vote in the online election. By implementing these regulations, the USU is trying to prevent double voting, people sharing around their votes and people voting as a USU member and a student simultaneously.
Wherrett said that the issue of voter turnout is a “real concern” for the USU and that creating a thriving board campaign is the responsibility of both the USU and the candidates themselves. He suggested that the onus is on candidates and campaigners to encourage potential voters to sign up for USU membership in the first week of campaigning, before the deadline passes. He also wants to see a more diverse range of students running for Board.
“We really want a lot of people to run for board, we don't just want the factional candidates, we don't just the friends of current board directors”.
The USU is also working to assist students who are struggling to purchase basic necessities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organisation plans to expand their food delivery program beyond student accommodation to students living in surrounding areas such as Glebe, Darlington and Camperdown.
“We are looking at expanding that program of providing food and also potentially groceries, because the USU has good supply contacts, to as many students as possible”.
The USU is also planning to move USU Rewards online and will expand partnerships with companies such as UNiDAYS and Hoyts Cinemas to provide more offers to members, as well as discounts on university merchandise.
A moratorium has been placed on club de-registration to accommodate the difficulties faced by international students who have been unable to return to Sydney.
Wherrett said the USU is assisting Chinese international students who remain in China by creating solidarity content and supporting the National Union of Students campaign to promote the rights of international students.
“My heart goes out to all of you and we’ll do whatever we can,” he said.
Wherrett explained that the resignation of former Board Director Zimeng Ye earlier this year was a personal “wake-up call” about the direct effects of the COVID-19 crisis. He praised the representation of international students on Board, arguing that it means the “issues that affect the University community are touching [the Board] directly”.
Wherrett also said that assisting students in accessing mental health and wellbeing is a significant focus for the USU and said that if you have any issues you can contact a member of the board to assist you.
“It has been a very difficult time and we are doing the best we can but also contact the USU board anytime you need literally anything and we’ll try and assist”, said Wherrett.
Read the USU’s media release in full below.
Further USU COVID-19 Update
SYDNEY, Friday 3 April 2020: A further update from the University of Sydney Union (USU) to our members, stakeholders and the entire student community at the University about our ongoing response to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 crisis.
Over the last month the USU Board and management have been carefully monitoring University and government responses to the COVID-19 crisis. In the circumstances the USU is taking action to close all but three of its retail outlets and is working with retail tenants to maintain some services to those who remain on campus.
USU Campus Operations
From Monday 6 April the USU will close all its retail outlets, with the exception of:
Footbridge Station @ Holme (7am-4pm)
Snack Express @ Wentworth Food Court (8am-3pm)
USYD Store @ JFR (9am-5pm)
These three outlets will remain open for the convenience of the University community. They will operate as takeaway only, enforcing social distancing rules and continuing with enhanced hygiene practices, following the advice of federal and state governments and NSW Health.
For details of the current status of all USU operations and activities, please see the Annexure to this release. We will continue to update these arrangements as necessary. Please check our social media and our website for the latest information.
USU Retail Tenants – Manning & Wentworth
The COVID-19 crisis is proving difficult also for the USU’s diverse retail tenants across both Wentworth and Manning Buildings. The USU is currently in discussions with tenants about the way forward. In the meantime, social distancing and best practice hygiene are in place.
While we understand that they, like the USU, may need to be flexible with their offerings and opening hours during this crisis, we are encouraging them to stay open for the benefit of the students and staff remaining on campus and those in accommodation nearby. Again, we will provide updates as the situation develops.
USU Staff
Regrettably, the closure of USU outlets means that the USU must stand some staff down during this COVID-19 crisis period.
However the USU intends to apply for the Federal Government’s recently-announced JobKeeper Subsidy and, if eligible, we will make that payment to all eligible USU employees, including those now being stood down and the relevant casual employees who could no longer be rostered following the downturn in attendance on campus during March.
As before, all other USU staff who can feasibly work from home are now doing so and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
USU President Connor Wherrett said, “Closing almost all USU outlets on campus is not a decision the USU has taken lightly. We are proud of our long history of serving students and the University community and we look forward to resuming operations just as soon as we can. Footbridge, Snack Express and USYD Store @ JFR remain open for urgent supplies for the few who remain on campus.”
ENDS