Stop the TAFE Rip Off

Thousands of TAFE teachers at their first strike over pay and conditions for more than a decade have voted unanimously for a concerted program of industrial action, calling on the Victorian Government to stop ripping off the TAFE system.

Victoria has Australia’s lowest-funded TAFE system, and Victorian TAFE teachers are the nation’s lowest paid.

Salaries are now up to $13,000 a year less than Victorian school teachers. Sixty per cent of TAFE teachers are employed casually with no contracts, no sick leave entitlements, no holidays and no job security. Yet student numbers are growing and workload is increasing. Morale is plummeting.

It’s time to stop this rip-off.

The AEU launched its fight for a fair deal in TAFE in March 2007, lobbying the State Government for a single agreement for TAFE teachers across Victoria.

Since that first step the AEU has fought a vigorous campaign in TAFE institutes and in the community with rallies, posters, strong media coverage and a major recruitment drive. Skills Minister Jacinta Allan has been inundated with hundreds of campaign postcards from AEU TAFE members.

The battle is being fought in the face of intransigence from employers. The AEU served TAFE directors with its log of claims – based on extensive member consultations – in August last year. Employers know the score, but refuse to come to the table without unacceptable preconditions that would mean the effective introduction of individual contracts with some of the worst features of John Howard's AWAs.

Now they are threatening to withdraw from negotiations entirely and pursue separate agreements for each TAFE institute. That is a breach of good faith bargaining and flies in the face of the policy set down by the State Government after AEU lobbying.

On this page you can find background materials, supporting documents, news releases and posters and leaflets to download and join the fight.

TAFE is the engine which will drive Australia out of its skills crisis, but it’s being run into the ground. Victorian TAFE teachers need a fair deal NOW.

Key documents

SSO Campaign

Support our SSOs

School services officers are vital members in our government schools. They provide critical support to colleagues and students. But their salaries have been too low for too long. Enough is enough.

SSOs gave their wholehearted support to teachers and principals’ campaign for a fair wage – now negotiations for their own agreement have dragged on for more than six months. The signs are that the Brumby Government has not learned the lessons from the teachers’ dispute and continues to demand a 3.25% pay cap.

Many SSOs earn little more than the minimum wage, and more than half of our SSOs are on fixed-term contracts with no long-term job security. Many put in long extra hours without pay.

Ours SSOs desperately need a significant outcome from the new agreement. And they can not afford to wait much longer.

We need to call on the combined strength of the AEU and its supporters to fight for a better deal for SSOs.

The AEU has launched a petition that will be presented to the Premier Mr Brumby – download the petition form (PDF, 84KB), and get your colleagues, friends, families and communities to sign it and return it to the AEU.

You can also send a message directly to the Premier and to Education Minister Bronwyn Pike, by email using the protest form below.

And you can read regular updates on the agreement negotiations on our SSO page.

SSOs need to have their voice heard.

SSOs claims in brief

Salaries: As with teachers, the Government is attempting to impose a 3.25% salary cap – we are determined to break through this barrier.

Classification structure: Misclassification is endemic for SSOs – three-quarters believe they are working above their grade. We are seeking recognition for qualifications, training and experience for all SSOs, with a particular focus on the lowest paid.

Notebook computers: SSOs need better access to IT to do their jobs effectively. We want the teachers’ laptop program extending to SSOs.

Working With Children Check: All SSOs must obtain this new check in order to work, but the Government insists they meet the cost themselves. We continue to seek reimbursement.

Schools Agreement 08

After being overwhelmingly endorsed by AEU members, the Victorian Government Schools Agreement came into effect on July 30.

The Workplace Authority's ruling that the agreement passed the no disadvantage test paved the way for pay rises and back pay to be made to teachers and principals on August 14.

In a ballot of AEU delegates, 89% voted in favour of the agreement. A further secret ballot of all school teachers and principals produced a vote of 84% in favour, the highest level of support for an agreement in recent years.

All pay rises have been backdated to May 11. Most teachers and principals will also receive a one-off payment of $1000-$2000 in the pay period of August 28.

An Implementation Guide (PDF, 1.2MB) has been produced and will be distributed to schools to help them get the most out of the agreement. A series of meetings is also being held across the state to advise members on features of the deal and what they should do now. The list of meeting dates and venues can be found here. We encourage at least two people from each school to come to these sessions.

Below are links to the main Agreement documents with further information in the News and Background Information areas at the bottom of this page.

Schools Agreement 2008 Documents

Schools Agreement 2008 Guides

2008 Schools Agreement at a glance

• $10,000 pay rise from May 11 for 16,000 teachers
• Around $5,000 pay rise for 5,000 teachers
• $1000, $1500 or $2000 bonuses for most teachers/principals
• Pay increases which average between 5.2% and 11.5% per year
• Top rung classroom teachers now best paid in Australia
• Best starting salary in Australia
• Crackdown on contract abuse
• Guaranteed summer pay for contract teachers who work full year and pro rata school holiday pay for all others
• No loss of pupil free days
• No loss of holidays
• Enhanced consultation
• Laptop discounts