TAFE teachers fight cuts to working conditions

TAFE teachers are protesting the Andrews Government’s attempts to slash TAFE teacher working conditions, amid new data showing TAFE staff are working excessive overtime.

The AEU withdrew from enterprise negotiations after the Andrews Government tried to push through a deal that would leave TAFE teachers worse off.

“TAFE teachers deliver the skills and training Victoria needs. They can’t deliver high quality training for students if they are overworked and underpaid. We will not stand for a deal that leaves TAFE teachers worse off,” said Meredith Peace, president of AEU Victoria.

“The Andrews Government wants to increase TAFE teacher annual class-facing hours by almost 20 percent. This will mean job losses. This will mean fewer teachers in our TAFE system. TAFE teachers are already working excessive overtime and increasingly expected to do more with less.

“New data today shows TAFE teachers are already working an average of 6.8 hours every week of overtime.

“Teachers are the bedrock of our skills and training system, yet seventy five percent of TAFE teachers are in insecure work, in contract or casual employment. The Andrews Government needs to fix this now.   

“TAFE teachers are stretched. Chronic underfunding of Victoria’s training sector has meant TAFE teacher workloads have been steadily increasing. Ninety percent of TAFE teachers say their administration and compliance workload has increased in the last 12 months. 

“Our TAFE teachers are paid $10,000 less than NSW TAFE teachers, and our TAFEs receive the highest proportion of income from student fees, not Government funding. The privatisation of Victoria’s training system has failed.

“The Andrews Government was elected after promising it would save TAFE. Abandoning TAFE teachers and expecting them to agree to an enterprise deal that strips their working conditions is not saving TAFE,” said Ms Peace.
 

Key findings from AEU Victoria's annual State of our TAFEs report released today:

  • TAFE teachers work on average 6.8 hours of unpaid overtime per week
  • 90% of TAFE teachers say their administrative workload had increased over the last 12 months
  • 75% of TAFE teachers said they had considered leaving their job in the last 12 months
  • Nearly 60% of TAFE teachers reported that there had been hours shaved off their classes’ nominal course hours, allocating less time for direct contact with students.
  • 80% of teachers did not believe that the needs of students were always taken into account when courses are designed.
  • Nearly 45% of teachers said the range of courses available at their TAFE had dropped compared to last year, with only 7% saying their course range had increased.
  • Over 85% of teachers believed the quality of education delivered at their TAFE was being affected by lack of funding
  • See full report here


    Andrews government previous comments on TAFE:

    We've guaranteed the future of TAFE because it changes lives.” – Premier Daniel Andrews, (Tweet 25/08/2016: http://bit.ly/2xfQEJl)

    I’ve been so impressed with the communities I’ve visited who want to rebuild TAFE. It’s because Victorians have spoken so loudly in support of TAFE that we’ve spent every day of the last two years strengthening it. – Minister for Training and Skills, Gayle Tierney (09/12/16)

    The Andrews Labor Government is investing hundreds of millions of dollars into TAFE. That’s why we’re endorsing a collective brand of providers – showing the community TAFE can take you anywhere. – Minister for Training and Skills, Gayle Tierney (09/02/17)

    “TAFE isn’t just changing the lives of everyday Victorians – it’s also making sure industry has the skills it needs for the jobs of today and tomorrow.” – Minister for Training and Skills, Gayle Tierney (09/02/17)

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