TAFE & Adult Provision Taking a united stand in TAFE
To achieve a pay rise that values the work of TAFE teachers and helps address cost-of-living pressures, members have launched industrial action, participating in work bans and a series of stopworks to maximise pressure on the state government to put a decent offer on the table.
Government’s offer of a 3% increase, with no improvements in working conditions, is unacceptable. As our industrial action continues to escalate, there has never been a more critical time for members to unite and actively engage in the campaign for better wages and conditions.
The power of taking united action to bring about change was demonstrated during the successful campaign for a single interest agreement (SIA), granted in November last year. It is only due to the collective work of members that TAFE teachers now have the right to take industrial action for a better deal.
We need to ramp up that pressure on TAFEs and the state government. While our actions may cause short-term disruption for students, everyone will ultimately benefit.
Take part in Wear it Red Wednesdays, and urge all your colleagues to join the union.
Members’ ongoing participation is critical to the campaign’s success. Make sure to stay informed about the action. Attend sub-branch meetings and look out for AEU emails. Display our campaign posters around your campus. Take part in Wear it Red Wednesdays, and urge all your colleagues to join the union. More than 100 TAFE teachers have joined the AEU since the campaign began. It’s time for all AEU members to unite and take a stand.
Bargaining in the dual sector
Negotiations for improved agreements continue across the state for TAFE teachers working in dual sector universities. Here is a rundown of where things are at for each institute.
RMIT provided members with a 4% pay increase in June via an administrative adjustment. However, it is not clear how this might affect negotiations. RMIT has not increased its pay offer; management has simply increased the first instalment from 3% to 4%, meaning the pay offer for the other two years would likely drop. We are hoping to recommence bargaining soon.
At Federation University, negotiations have been progressing well, with fortnightly meetings in the hope that we can reach agreement in the next few months.
After Victoria University last year reneged on a rollover of the current agreement for 18 months, members have completed a log of claims and we will be looking to commence negotiations in the coming weeks. In the interim, VU has provided employees with a 4% administrative adjustment to pay.
At Swinburne, the current agreement is due to expire on 31 December and we will be meeting with members to develop a log of claims in coming months.
