Tom Hayes and Katrina Brandon
Police all over the state and local TAFE teachers are the latest to demonstrate their plight.
Victorian police officers demonstrating protected industrial action recently entered phase two, ramping up their efforts for increased wages.
A small rally of TAFE teachers was also held in Morwell recently outside the office of Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing, as the Australian Education Union reported 71 per cent of TAFE teachers were considering leaving the profession.
Like police, TAFE teachers are calling for better pay.
The AEU estimated that from January next year, an experienced TAFE teacher would be paid almost $9000 less than a similarly experienced school teacher.
AEU Gippsland organiser Jeff Gray said TAFE teachers hadn’t had a pay rise in two years.
“We are calling on Harriet Shing to put a lot more pressure on the state government and down on the Premier to dissolve a dispute by doing something about workload and putting a very significant pay deal on the table,” Mr Gray said.
“Nothing has been offered to reduce the workload, and nothing has been offered for pay but three per cent. The three per cent deal will keep TAFE teachers well below school teachers, probably $8-9000 annually. We have significant shortages across our TAFE and still have Australia’s lowest funded TAFE system.”
Mr Gray told the Gippsland Times AEU members were currently disappointed and frustrated. He also said one of the problems they were having was that TAFE lost teachers who went back on the tools or back into the industry to make more money, putting more workload on other teachers.
In response to the AEU, Ms Shing said she was constantly advocating for the community, including TAFE teachers who help workers learn new skills.
“I am looking forward to meeting with our hardworking TAFE teachers and supporting the valuable work they do,” she said.
“Recent discussions between the union and the TAFEs have been constructive, and we expect the union and the Victorian TAFE Association to reach an agreement soon.
“The government encourages the parties to continue bargaining in good faith, to ensure the proposed agreement is within our wages policy – while delivering a fair outcome for our critically needed TAFE educators.
Officers reject offer
Victoria Police’s enterprise bargaining agreement was due to expire last year, and investigations began as to how conditions could be improved for police officers. Once those proposals were made, negotiations began for the 2024 EBA.
Victoria Police are asking for a six per cent annual pay rise over four years, with 8.5-hour shifts to allow time for members to ‘kit-up’ and ‘de-kit’ during their paid hours.
A police officer, who wished to remain anonymous, spoke to the Gippsland Times regarding the state of the force and the PIA.
“Basically, we are overworked and underpaid. The cost of living is going through the roof and what we’ve been offered isn’t even in line,” they said.
Police unanimously voted ‘no’ to the first offer last month, which included a pay rise of four per cent over four years, triggering the implementation of phase two.
“This is the first time ever that the majority vote has been a ‘no’, and they’ve had to go back to the drawing board,” the police officer added.
The offer also included nine-hour shifts, which would include an extra day off every fortnight, however the reality was it would not be fully implemented for almost four years, and only if there were sufficient sworn members to facilitate it.
The Police Association of Victoria (TPAV) gave an update to the Gippsland Times regarding the EBA negotiations and PIA.
“There have been no negotiations with Victoria Police for some weeks now over the EBA. Victoria Police has applied to the Fair Work Commission for an intractable bargaining declaration that seeks to have FWC decide the future pay and conditions of our members,” a TPAV spokesperson said.
“The Police Association has opposed this and we continue to encourage Victoria Police to come back to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair pay rise for its members.
“Meanwhile, industrial action remains ongoing with our members voicing their displeasure with the government and Victoria Police by scrawling messages on police cars – to alert the public to the ongoing plight of our members.
“Our members are also sitting off speed cameras to alert motorists to their location and strip revenue from the government. They are speaking to media about the impact this pay dispute is having on them, withdrawing from ‘voluntary duties’ shifts and withholding statistical data.
“(The protected industrial action) is really highlighting to the members how much extra time they are putting in.”
Despite the PIA in place, officers have pledged to maintain community safety and prioritise the community’s needs above all.
