Victorian TAFE teachers have condemned the Allan Labor Government for undervaluing and disrespecting them by dragging out a pay and conditions dispute for two years.
They are set to escalate industrial action, taking stop-work action for the second time since June, following the government's failure to address their concerns of unpaid overtime,and excessive and unsustainable workloads, which have caused many to burnout and leave the profession.
According to the Australian Education Union, TAFE teachers were offered a pay increase in line with Victoria's public sector wages cap but were asked to increase their workloads in return. However, in a recent survey of TAFE teachers, 71 per cent said they were consideringquitting due to excessive current workloads.
With an ongoing skills shortage and an increasing shortage of TAFE teachers, the outcome for Victorian businesses and industry is dire.
Victorian TAFEs are already the lowest funded in the country and have been over the entire term of this government.
Victorian TAFE teachers are among the lowest paid in Australia and Victoria has the lowest indicator for creating a training system, which meets the needs of students, employers and industry, according to the Productivity Commission.
Shadow Minister for Skills and Training, Bridget Vallence, said: "ThisAllan Labor Government has starved TAFE of funding, ignored the concerns of TAFE teachers and is now reaping the result of their mismanagement.
"The Allan Labor Government must fix this mess of its own creation to avoid more disruption to a pipeline of skilled workers.
"Labor is ruining TAFE and young Victorians are paying the price."
