Efforts made to improve restructure plan

LINDA SIMON reports on the many attempts to negotiate improvements to the proposed TAFE restructure.

Over the past six weeks, groups of TAFE TA members particularly affected by this restructure have met with management groups in attempts to address their issues. From the TAFE TA sub-group of the Educational Futures Forum, representatives from the divisions and TAFE units have met on a fairly regular basis. Whilst not at any stage accepting the job losses, the group has looked at the proposed new structures to address issues such as what will be the functions and priorities of these structures, and what work will no longer be carried out. TAFE TA has determined that until this matter is successfully addressed, then TAFE management cannot possibly say what staff will be needed and at what grades. However, we do of course know that common sense has little to do with this restructure.

Arising out of a meeting with Deputy Director-General TAFE Robin Shreeve and Acting Assistant Director-General TAFE Kim Fillingham, a small group of members was asked to work on these particular issues. There were three representatives from the divisions, one from the Professional Development Network and one from head office. This group has consulted with institutes as to their priorities for work to be undertaken within the new structures, and written up a report.

Representatives from the TAFE Equity units have also had a number of meetings, and Federation is continuing to protest against the proposed job losses in the Equity areas. The Multicultural Programs Unit has dropped from 12 to four staff in the TAFE area, Gender Equity has lost one position out of five, and Disabilities has also lost several positions. How can the appropriate support be provided to institutes with this loss of staff?

There have also been several meetings around the Federation position that TAFE Equity units should be situated in TAFE. Discussions have been held with Robin Shreeve, Director Equity Denis Fitzgerald and Director Disabilities Programs Brian Smyth King. Following the most recent meeting, a submission with proposals for a new structure has been presented. The version 2 structure has an Equity position in TAFE, but the Federation proposal indicates how such an Equity unit might operate and the connections that would occur with the other Equity parts of TAFE. Equity managers in institutes have also been pursuing a similar line with the Department. The Aboriginal Programs Unit has been undergoing its own review, separate from this central process.

Meetings have also been held with OTEN staff, and TAFE TA continues to protest at the separation of delivery and development in OTEN. Whilst version 2 of the restructure still geographically co-locates these areas at Strathfield, reporting lines through to different areas (delivery to Western Sydney and development to the Online Directorate) will make the job of these members so much more difficult in ensuring that TAFE priorities for distance education and other work are met.

There have also been two meetings, one with Director-General Jan McClelland about Southern Sydney, and why this institute should be maintained in the new structures. Federation has cited the connections with local industry and the community, the demographics of where students come from, the need for appropriate support for the statewide centres, and a range of other matters. Federation still fails to see how the loss of Southern Sydney Institute will save the Department money (just think of the new letterhead and signs for a start), but then again we don't know of any of the restructures that haven't cost as much as they have purported to save.

Discussions have also been taking place around the Corporate Services Review, which proposes to centralise many functions including finance and human resources. A number of joint services (TAFE and schools) will be located in institutes under the Institute Directors. TAFE TA's submission will be asking questions around whether either TAFE or schools will get better services out of these proposals. TAFE's information technology support is to be shared with schools, and TAFE TA members should be aware of a proposed statewide centre looking after all finance and procurement, and the proposals to review the Establishment Control (EC) system. These changes will directly impact on the work of head teachers in particular. The second version of the proposed Corporate Services changes is presently out for consultation until December 5.

The other area of negotiation has been around the departmental policy on managing displaced employees that will apply to members who are displaced in this restructure, when finalised. Both the Federation and Public Service Association are negotiating around the best procedures for members, including the ability to put in an expression of interest for positions, job swaps, part time work and the ability to express interest in a voluntary redundancy. These discussions are continuing.

While the TAFE strike proposed for November 4 was postponed, TAFE TA members should continue to take action around the attacks on TAFE -- the restructure and loss of jobs, the student fees and the appalling budgets that institutes will have to work within next year.

Linda Simon is the TAFE TA Secretary.

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005