More than 2500 TAFE teachers filled Sydney Town Hall on February 11 during a 24-hour strike. The action was in response to New South Wales government attacks on TAFE teachers and the delivery of quality education.
Teachers from all over NSW attended the meeting, including large contingents from the Illawarra, Central Coast, Hunter and Blue Mountains regions. Supporting the NSW Teachers' Federation (NSWTF) were contingents from Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, the Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union, the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union, the Rail Bus and Trams Union, the Financial Services Union, the Australian Services Union and the Nurses Federation.
Speakers condemned the "Work Choices style" attacks from the government which include a 20% increase in workload in return for a 1.5% salary increase; an additional five hours of attendance time; delays of six months or more in paying overtime; and being required to work anytime between 6am and 10pm, Monday to Saturday.
NSWTF President Bob Lipscombe condemned the state ALP government's media campaign against the union as an "attempt to silence the Federation, to silence you, to cower you — it will not succeed."
Teachers are incensed that premier Kristina Keneally hasn't fulfilled her promise made on December 18 to continue discussions with the union.
Rob Long, Wollongong TAFE teachers' representative, told 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly: "The Labor Party is designing the destruction of post-school public education, both at a federal and state level. Even under Work Choices we wouldn't be this bad off."
Geoff Turnbull, former president of the NSW TAFE Teachers Association received a standing ovation when he said, "We never take the decision to strike lightly; it's only ever a last resort.
"Responsibility for today's strike rests with the NSW government, the Minister for Education and Training and the Director General … We often had to take industrial action to defend conditions won. This is one of those times we'll win because we are united and determined."
He condemned the Labor Party, which "came from the Trade Union movement, yet is now encouraging strike breaking and seeking fines against the union for taking industrial action".
The meeting unanimously adopted a resolution to continue the campaign to resolve the dispute. The resolution called for protesting at visits by NSW Labor MPs to TAFE schools and campuses, lobbying members of parliament and a preparedness to engage in further industrial action.