Today, for the first time in a decade, teachers from over 60 New South Wales TAFE colleges have taken 24-hour stop-work action.
 
It’s no wonder they have had enough. For the last decade we have seen a wonderful TAFE system be eroded by a Liberal National Government that does not support accessible public education.
 
Fees have skyrocketed, courses have been cut, campuses have been sold and thousands of teaching and support staff have lost their jobs. We have seen tens of millions of dollars be wasted on overseas consultants, failed IT upgrades and enrolment systems that don’t work.
 
The impact of this on TAFE staff is increased workloads, the casualisation of roles and poor wages growth. The impact on students is dire.
 
Like every public sector employee, our hard-working TAFE teachers deserve access to enterprise bargaining that reflects the true value of their contribution to our education system.
 
A Minns Labor Government is committed to open dialogue with the sector and a bargaining system that is truly fair.
 
After 12 years of Liberal and National Government, what is clear is their wages cap has been a handbrake on productivity, that is why a Minns Labor Government will abolish this broken system and replace it with a better, fairer system. One that will help us to deliver fair wages, productivity growth and better public services to the people of NSW.
 
We call on the Perrottet Government to do the same.

TIM CRAKANTHORP
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR SKILLS AND TAFE