Protesters plan ambush but Rees springs the surprise

Ruth Boydell stands firm with protesters before confronting Premier Rees.

Premier spends 15 minutes with Hunter TAFE teachers at Caves Beach but was he listening?

By Terri Quinlan

On November 6, over 40 angry Hunter TAFE teachers protested against the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) decision on TAFE salaries outside Caves Beach Resort, where Premier Nathan Rees was due to attend a function with local MPs and community leaders.Teachers began arriving in the car park across from the resort at 5pm and rallied around "The Kombi", which was decorated with protest signs and red flags. As the time for the Premier's arrival neared, protesters moved across to cover the main entrance to the resort and the driveway into the underground car park. They were unsure whether the Premier would run the gauntlet or opt to avoid them by driving into the underground resort entrance.

Police were called and resort security gathered on the veranda outside the front doors. Just before 7pm, the Premier arrived and was dropped off by his driver just up the road. As he and his staff marched down the street towards the entrance, he was greeted and surrounded by a swarm of angry teachers chanting ("More work, less pay - no way"), waving placards, banging drums and blowing whistles. As the teachers congregated around him, Mr Rees had two options: stop and talk or push his way through.

Much to the surprise of the teachers given his lack of action leading up to the IRC decision, the Premier opted to talk. He spent almost 15 minutes listening to teachers' concerns and invited spokesperson Ruth Boydell (Fed Rep, Newcastle TAFE campus), to join him inside for a drink to discuss the issues. Ruth declined, preferring to allow her colleagues to be part of the discussions with Mr Rees.It was disappointing to hear the Premier state that he was not "aware" of some of what he was being told after the many attempts by Federation to seek meetings with him and the many letters and emails sent by the TAFE Teachers Association and TAFE teachers across the state.

Mr Rees initially responded by promising to speak to the Education Minister "next week", but finished by amending that to "this weekend". He then invited Ruth to email him the teachers' list of concerns.Federation has been trying to meet with the Premier for some time over the TAFE salaries dispute, and on November 6 TAFE members managed to do just that. We spoke, he listened...did he hear us? The proof will be in his actions.

As the Premier moved inside, the local school's Fed Rep attending the function as a guest of the local MP promised the TAFE protesters that he would, if possible, have only one thing to say to Nathan - "Premier, you need to talk to [Federation President] Bob Lipscombe". TAFE teachers around the state loudly, and wholeheartedly, agree.

Terri Quinlan teachers at Hunter TAFE, Wyong Campus.

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Last Modified: 19 Nov 2009