By Lachlan Malloch
SYDNEY — Staff employed at Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes across NSW are desperately trying to fend off severe funding cuts and job losses. As part of the state Labor government's June budget, $35 million is to be cut from the Department of Education and Training, which is responsible for TAFE institutes.
The foreshadowed loss of 630 full-time equivalent jobs will affect a much larger number of staff, many of whom work part time. Student numbers are expected to rise by 2% next year.
The Industrial Relations Commission ordered a three-week suspension of the job losses on July 30 to permit negotiations between the department and the two unions whose members are affected, the Public Service Association (PSA) and the NSW Teachers Federation.
The Sydney Institute of Technology, which is targeted for an $8 million cut, announced on August 12 that staff numbers at its Ultimo library would be halved and the Petersham West Street campus would close.
The federal government has been arguing that TAFE institutes should compete with private course providers; the state government's funding cuts reflect this ideology of "competitiveness". The PSA points out that many of the comparisons of private colleges and TAFE institutes do not take account of the fact that TAFE provides a better level of service, with a vastly superior infrastructure.
A campaign committee of union delegates from across the public service met on August 14 to decide on the next steps in a campaign to defend jobs and services. It called on the PSA to immediately begin a campaign to educate union members and the public about the funding and job cuts facing the NSW public service.
Meetings of PSA members around the state will vote in September on industrial action.