NSW Teachers Federation TAFE president Maurie Mulheron addressed the meeting at TAFEs Wollongong campus this afternoon, encouraging teachers to vote ‘No’ in the online vote for the agreement which concludes today.

Mr Mulheron said in December teachers across the state had overwhelmingly voted against a similar enterprise agreement put forward by TAFE NSW.

He said the new agreement was almost the same and should again be opposed to force TAFE management to return to negotiations.

He said the main point of contention in the new agreement was the attempt to introduce new positions that would replace qualified teachers with less qualified staff on lower pay.

‘‘TAFE management want to bring in new classifications of positions - what they call tutors and assessors,’’ Mr Mulheron said.

‘‘These workers do not have to have teaching qualifications and they will be paid half the hourly rate of a teacher, to do work that teachers currently do.

‘‘What we are fearful of is that all TAFE wants to do is bring in these workers to replace part-time and full-time TAFE teachers.

‘‘And it’s not just a matter of professional teachers’ jobs being at risk, this move would also drive down the quality of education provided by TAFE.’’

Mr Mulheron said this came on top of the 800 jobs set to be slashed from TAFE due to budget cuts, and would be compounded by the government’s Smart and Skilled reforms which come into effect in 2014.

NSWTF Wollongong branch secretary Kerry Stratton said the new enterprise agreement was ‘‘unacceptable’’.

‘‘TAFE teachers are qualified teachers. Tutors and assessors are not. The O’Farrell Government calls this Smart and Skilled. This is ironic.’’

Ms Stratton said TAFE Illawarra institute director Di Murray had been invited to attend today's meeting, but had refused.

The Illawarra Mercury was unable to get comment from TAFE Illawarra management today.