The National Tertiary Education Union is hosting a digital sit-in from 7AM to 7PM on Monday, protesting casualisation and insecure work at the University of Newcastle.
There's concern casual staff are being treated unfairly after having their requests to move to ongoing employment rejected.
Union Secretary Damien Cahill says a digital protest shouldn't be underestimated.
"In higher education, in universities, casualisation is out of control," Mr Cahill said.
"About forty percent of all university workers are casual, and we know that there are other industries across the country, like hospitality, where casualisation is also out of control.
"We're trying to spread the message."
The sit-in is being livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube, with a number of speakers and senators set to address audiences throughout the day.
Mr Cahill says the University of Newcastle was a shining example of where casual conversion laws fail.
"Out of about 2,300 casual staff at Newcastle Uni, only five have received offers of ongoing employment," Mr Cahill said.
"Casual staff are outraged, they're sick of being in precarious work.
"They believe their work is ongoing, and they should be given ongoing contracts."
