TAFE members have won more than $300,000 of backpay in the past four months thanks to the NSW Teachers Federation’s work to resolve issues concerning significant underpayments under previous TAFE NSW management.
TAFE Organiser Melissa O’Meara said the victory highlighted the importance of Federation membership to “effectively enforce, protect and improve our working conditions and entitlements” through collective strength.
“We spend so much time working through these cases and so many people think that because they work in the public sector, their pay can’t be wrong… Well, I can tell you that wage theft — unintentional or not — is rife!” If you aren’t yet a Federation member, you can sign up here now.
These underpayments were primarily the result of previous TAFE NSW management’s failures to fulfil entitlements for related duties and salary progression.
Despite strong opposition from TAFE management at the time, Federation members won the case for payment of related duties for TAFE teachers two decades ago when the NSW Industrial Relations Commission recognised the inequities in pay and conditions between part-time and casual teachers compared to those who were permanent.
Since then, the TAFE enterprise agreement has been very clear about the entitlement of part-time and casual teachers to payment for related duties. It is not at the discretion of heads of skills teams, head teachers (band 3) or section head teachers to deny payment of related duties or any other entitlement.
If TAFE members believe they have been underpaid, they should contact 1300 654 369 or email postschools@nswtf.org.au.
Melissa, along with Ben Parsons, will be hosting a workshop at the New Activist Conference aimed at TAFE teachers who would like to build union power and fight for better pay and conditions. Registrations close on Wednesday 24 September. Learn more here.
We look forward to continuing our work with the current TAFE management to foster a flourishing and supportive TAFE system.