Federation condemns O'Farrell government attack on TAFE teachers

NSW Teachers Federation President Bob Lipscombe has condemned the O'Farrell government's decision to introduce changes to the Technical and Further Education Commission Act into state parliament late this afternoon.

Mr Lipscombe said:

"In what appears to be little more than a cynical move to stop TAFE teachers negotiating fair and reasonable salary increases as their current salaries award ends, the O'Farrell government is attempting to shift the teachers from their state award to coverage under the Federal government's industrial legislation.

”It is clear that the government believes that this move will stop any reasonable negotiations and allow it to cut both the real incomes of TAFE teachers and their working conditions.

“With the move kept completely secret until the legislation was introduced into the parliament, the O' Farrell government has shown that claims it made before the state elections that it would usher in a new era of open and transparent government are nothing more than deceit.

“In keeping with long accepted industrial relations practice, the Federation has recently written to the government to commence negotiations for a new salaries award for both school and TAFE teachers. Its disgraceful response has shown that teachers can no longer trust the O'Farrell government."