State Budget and TAFE

In the recent state budget, there were a number of announcements which will or may impact on TAFE members.

• Long Service Leave. The intent of the Government is to amend the long service provisions in various Acts such as the TAFE Act so that public sector employees would only accrue 9 days credit per year, even after their 15th year of service at which point employees currently commence accruing 15 days credit per year. The proposed change would take effect from 1 July 2011 – the Bill has already passed the Lower House and is now before the Upper House. The Public Sector Unions have been holding protest rallies to pressure the Government not to go ahead with the changes.
  
  

• Recreation Leave Loading. This is also under for attack for public sector employees although it would appear that TAFE Act employees are exempt from this.
  
  

• Redundancies. While the Government is offering TVSPs to reduce the public sector workforce by almost 4000, they have indicated their intention to force employees to retire if the take up rate isn't high enough. This effectively ends the Government's commitment of no forced redundancies.