TEACHERS at Kangan-Batman TAFE in Broadmeadows are underpaid, overworked and at the end of their tether, teachers and the Australian Education Union say.
The AEU met disgruntled teachers last week to discuss stop-work action on August 20 in protest at low salaries and a high percentage of casual teachers employed at the Broadmeadows campus.
Kangan-Batman teacher Pauline Porcaro, who teaches hospitality, tourism and events management at Broadmeadows, said TAFE teachers were exhausted and struggling to keep up with the cost of
living.
"Sixty per cent of teachers here are employed as casuals and don't get holiday pay.''
"Our workloads have become unbearable and we get paid quite a substantial amount less than school teachers.''
Ms Porcaro said TAFE bosses were only prepared to negotiate pay rises in exchange for increased productivity.
"But we have given all we have got,'' she said.
"They have given pay rises to all Victorian school teachers but not us ... it's insulting.
"Are we the poor cousins with horns? Are they better than us? TAFE teachers are fed up. We need a good education for our students here, so we've got to get the best people teaching.''
Teacher and AEU sub-branch representative Melinda Freyer said morale was at an all-time low.
"Teachers at Kangan Batman TAFE are the lowest paid in the country ... and are leaving in droves.''
Ms Freyer said they were not being replaced. "Five or six people have retired or resigned this year and have not been replaced ...
"This will have a big effect on the quality of courses here.''
AEU Victorian Branch president Mary Bluett said TAFE teachers were not being paid at the same rate as primary and secondary school teachers.
"Victorian TAFE teachers have not had a pay rise since September 2006 and remain the lowest paid in the country.
"A TAFE teacher at the top of the scale in Victoria earns $13,000 less than a school teacher at the top of the scale.
"Increased casualisation of the workforce, excessive workload and a lack of resources continue to take a toll on TAFE teachers; it is no wonder they have low morale as a result.''
AEU TAFE vice-president Gillian Robertson said TAFEs were finding it hard to retain skilled teachers because many were offered only casual positions.
"There is just not enough incentive for TAFE teachers to remain in, or join, the profession. Unless we improve the salary and conditions on offer to teachers, the essential services our TAFEs provide will suffer.
"We are calling on the negotiators for TAFE employers and the State Government to prevent TAFE teachers from having to take industrial action and to return to the table and resolve the dispute over a new certified agreement.''
Kangan Batman TAFE chief executive Ray Griffiths said TAFE teachers were "highly regarded, professional people'' but discussions had been hindered by unreasonable demands from the AEU.
"The AEU log of claims seeks something like 30per cent pay rises and changes to conditions that would see productivity reduced by around 15per cent - that simply does not add up if we want to continue to grow and prosper as a public provider.''
Mr Griffiths said TAFE employers had offered to take the matter to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission but had received little response from the union.
"Why the AEU would reject an offer to conciliate in front of the independent umpire is beyond me. I can't imagine what they would be saying to members to justify yet another month's delay while they organise some sort of industrial action.
"TAFE teachers should have received an increase in September 2007. Negotiations are stalled, and employers want a fair and reasonable solution with no more delays.
"It is time for the AEU to come to the table with employers, facilitated by an independent conciliator, to break the current impasse.''
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