TAFE SA staff fight job cuts as it moves to restructure
A leaner, more efficient TAFE is expected to result in more job cuts – and the Public Service Association is fighting back.
SA News
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TAFE SA staff have demanded an end to “uncertainty and disruption” as the institution seeks $15 million in savings through restructuring and looming job cuts.
The Public Service Association, which represents administration staff, said about 85 full-time equivalent positions had been lost over the past ten months and the union expected another 45 to go before July.
“There is absolutely no rationale for these cuts,” PSA assistant general secretary Natasha Brown said.
“TAFE has been running on minimum staffing for years, so to cut staff further is just a cynical move to make unjustified budget savings to frontline services.
“The cuts taking place are creating chaos – students are turning up for classes that have been cancelled because there are no admin staff to let them know.
“Staff are consistently having to deal with confused and frustrated students who can’t get the information they need as a result of the job cuts.”
The union is considering taking their case to the SA Employment Tribunal following lodging a dispute about workload and consultation with TAFE management. “(And) we’re not ruling out further industrial action,” Ms Brown said.
TAFE SA chief executive David Coltman said nine reviews into aspects of the business had been initiated in the past fortnight.
The aim was to ensure TAFE’s operations were aligned to its new strategic plan and the Government’s “fresh start for TAFE” reforms.
“(However), the PSA has put those reviews into dispute so we’re not able to progress them until the dispute is resolved,” Mr Coltman said.
There were several proposals under consideration but no final decisions made at the moment, he said.
“We’re keen to work with our staff and the PSA as we make changes at TAFE SA that have been signalled in our strategic plan and by the Government,” he said.
“Over the past few years we’ve addressed concerns about quality and we’re needing to ensure we have the organisation appropriately aligned so we can meet the changing needs of the workforce in SA.”
The PSA represents administration staff at TAFE.
The Australian Education Union, which represents academic staff, also has initiated disputes with TAFE over consultation.
TAFE SA’s staff numbers were expected to reduce by about 180 positions to 1972 full-time equivalent jobs this financial year, according to Budget papers.
TAFE’s expenses totalled $366 million last financial year, with the organisation reporting an $8 million loss, down from a $16 million loss the year before.
Under Education Minister John Gardner “fresh start for TAFE” initiative, the Government has pledged to “establish a fully contestable training system as quickly as possible”.
TAFE SA’s strategic plan says the organisation will improve access and choice within a contestable vocational education and training market, set the benchmark for quality, and be “viable, sustainable and accountable in our operations”.