Union says 470 regional TAFE jobs to be slashed

TAFE responds with figure at the opposite end of the spectrum.

The Grafton campus of North Coast Institute of TAFE.

There could be more pain on the way for the regional education system with a union claiming 470 jobs will be cut from NSW TAFE.

The Community and Public Sector Union this morning said TAFE had advised them that up to ten per cent of educational support jobs would go under two major restructures in Student Services and Facilities Management and Logistics.

“What do the people of NSW get from this gutting of critical training infrastructure? Fewer jobs and a hobbled education system,” CPSU general secretary Stewart Little said.

“In the middle of the worst economic downturn that the state has seen in a generation the Berejiklian government is closing pathways to prosperity.”

While the CPSU said the cuts would include people who work directly with students TAFE NSW has responded with a statement contradicting the union’s claims.

A TAFE NSW spokesperson said fewer than 50 jobs across the organisation would be lost and no student would be disadvantaged.

“These changes will reduce duplication and management layers,” they said.

“There are no teaching positions, or roles that support students in the classroom or with their studies included in these proposed changes.”

However, Mr Little said the CPSU would be fighting the job cuts “at every stage”.

“TAFE NSW is a vital piece of infrastructure that must remain in public hands, not dismantled for private operators,” Mr Little said.

While it is yet unknown how many jobs will go from TAFE facilities in Coffs Harbour and the Clarence, the potential cuts wouldn’t be the first to affect the north coast education sector in recent months.

Late last year Southern Cross University slashed 134 positions after a major restructure was brought on by coronavirus.

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