YOUR RIGHTS IN TAFE - WORTH FIGHTING FOR

The Federal Government introduced ia Bill entitled “Skilling Australia’s Workforce Bill 2005” which punitive measures threatened by the Government as part of the VET funding proposal.

State and Territory Governments are asked to sign up to this Agreement before July this year. At present there is no mechanism to continue Federal funding to TAFE beyond July. The Federal Government provides around a third of the recurrent funding for TAFE and three quarters of the capital funding. This could mean that NSW could lose $1.4 billion over the period of this Agreement.

The legislation makes it quite clear that there will be no funding unless the States and Territories agree to the changes that are included in the legislation.

The State and Territories are being asked to agree to changes that include:

• the offering of Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) in TAFE (individual contracts)
• increasing funds allocated to private providers under user choice arrangements
• opening up public TAFE facilities to third party access (i.e. access to our competitors)
• performance management systems including performance based pay
• giving more authority to Institute Directors including for recruitment and remuneration of employees
• removing requirements in State awards for time-based training
• a requirement that colleges must neither encourage nor discourage union membership.

PSA members in TAFE are being asked to be involved in protest action on 1 June, joining with the TAFE Teachers and PSA/CPSU & NTEU members in universities (i.e. general staff & academics). There will be rallies in Sydney and in regional areas.

PROTEST ACTION

WHAT CAN I DO?

• Participate in the rally closest to you.
• Encourage your fellow staff members to join the PSA and attend the rally.