TAFE & Adult Provision Amping up new TAFE agreement campaigns
With the current cost of living pressures, it will be of no surprise that an improvement to wages is on the agenda for all TAFEs. While dual-sector universities have their own enterprise agreements, it is important that wages and conditions remain competitive, not only for attracting new staff but also to retain existing teachers in the sector.
There is a teacher shortage across all sectors of public education and, if salaries and conditions do not improve, TAFEs will continue to struggle to keep current teachers and to attract new ones.
The Victorian government needs to address the skills shortage and develop the workforce of the future, and this starts at TAFE.
Standalone TAFEs are not only competing with each other and dual-sector universities for qualified vocational education teachers – they are competing with industry. With low unemployment rates, and huge demand for highly skilled and experienced workers, many TAFE teachers are looking to return to a job where salaries can be higher.
The Victorian government needs to address the skills shortage and develop the workforce of the future, and this starts at TAFE. Teachers must be acknowledged and properly valued through improved pay, conditions, and career opportunities.
As the campaign moves forward, we urge you to get your colleagues on board.
RMIT has recently indicated to staff that they need to be cognisant of their budget when it comes to negotiating a new agreement. However, right now, increases to pay and superannuation are essential, and this will be in our log of claims. RMIT counterparts at Victoria University and Federation University feel the same – and they are asking for an increase in pay and super, and for workload relief.
As the campaign moves forward, we urge you to get your colleagues on board. It’s not OK for non-members to continue to reap the benefits of your efforts towards better conditions and wages. Sometimes people just need to be asked. Ask a non-member colleague to join today at aeuvic.asn.au/join. When we build our numbers, we build our strength, and together we can put pressure on management and win a better deal.
