In this week’s episode we’re talking about all things TAFE.

Hear from SSTUWA TAFE organiser, Ramona Mitussis, and President Matthew Jarman.

The TAFE Committee has now put forward the 2023 TAFE Log of Claims and are in negotiations to seek better working conditions for TAFE lecturers. Some key claims include class size maximums, supervising and providing support to lecturers, workload and job security.

You may have seen or heard about the Public Sector Alliance (PSA), in which some of the biggest unions in WA have joined together to work to reform the public sector wages policy. Matt and Ramona discuss the joint PSA position and how it applies to the TAFE agreement.

Since a meeting occurred with Deputy Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Transport; Tourism, Hon. Rita Saffioti MLA, there will now be a series of one-on-one consultations with  stakeholders, including the SSTUWA, to make cost of living claims to the government as the public sector wages policy is reviewed.

Now more than ever lecturers, who are experts in their fields, are looking to the private sector for increased wages, which these negotiations aim to address.

A focus of EBA negotiations will be providing supervision and support in TAFE settings, not only for the health and wellbeing and retention of lecturers but also so that they are getting the job satisfaction that they would like to achieve.

The workload on lecturers, particularly in regional and remote areas, is significant and the issue of lecturer shortage is becoming more of problem, which must also be addressed.

Overall, this podcast highlights the importance of retaining existing lecturers and attracting new lecturers to the TAFE profession.

Have a topic you'd like us to chat about? Email editor@sstuwa.org.au


Authorised by Mary Franklyn, General Secretary, The State School Teachers' Union of W.A. 2023.