The union representing TAFE support staff has accused the state government of holding “a gun at members’ heads” as the fight to retain pay and conditions reaches boiling point.
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TAFE library, class support and administration staff walked off the job for three hours on Thursday as part of a statewide protest against proposed cuts to conditions.
They say TAFE NSW hasn’t bargained in good faith and won’t listen to the concerns of workers on the front line.
Public Service Association (PSA) regional organiser Tony Heathwood said the strike was about “trying to get a fair deal” out of an enterprise bargaining agreement battle that had been ongoing for almost a year.
“They [TAFE] came to the table with an agreement that was just slash conditions and jobs, change people’s jobs from permanent to temporary work,” Mr Heathwood said, adding the move was part of the government’s Smart and Skilled reforms.
Mr Heathwood said 81 per cent of staff voted against the proposed agreement in September and TAFE had been “steadfastly refusing” union requests to modify it since.
Among the PSA’s concerns are TAFE’s refusal to withdraw proposals to slash working conditions, including an increase in weekly working hours for no extra pay and the removal of rostered days off, he said.
“The other thing the government did, and TAFE did, was they hold a gun at members’ heads by refusing to backdate any pay increase unless it’s agreed to by a certain date,” he said.
Mr Heathwood feared the current situation was “the thin edge of the wedge”.
“We’re concerned this cost-cutting will eventually decimate the libraries and a lot of services that people rely on,” he said.
“That’s why they come to TAFE, to get that help that they can’t get from non-government providers.”
TAFE librarian, and PSA delegate, Chris Pickering said staff were “angry” management wasn’t listening.
“TAFE’s being disingenuous because they won’t actually negotiate, let alone actually come to an agreement,” Mr Pickering said.
A TAFE Illawarra spokeswoman said the changes to working hours were part of TAFE NSW’s “previous enterprise bargaining proposal”.
“This was not supported by employees at an earlier ballot,” she said.
“TAFE NSW will continue to work with the unions and nominated representatives to reach an agreement.”