Possible article:
WA TAFE Lecturers Reach New Agreement for Improved Pay and Conditions in 2019
In Western Australia (WA), the Technical and Further Education (TAFE) lecturers have secured a new enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) in 2019, after more than a year of negotiations with the state government and the TAFE Commission. The agreement covers about 1,000 full-time and part-time lecturers across 5 TAFE colleges in WA, and includes several significant improvements in terms of salary, workload, job security, and professional development.
One of the key changes in the new EBA is the pay rise for all lecturers, which ranges from 10.5% to 15.4% over the next 3 years, depending on the current classification and level of experience. The average increase is about 12%, which means that a lecturer on the lowest wage band will now earn around $72,000 per annum, while a senior lecturer on the highest wage band will receive up to $137,000 per annum. This pay rise is intended to address the long-standing issue of wage stagnation for TAFE lecturers, who have not had a significant increase in their salaries since 2013, and have been facing higher cost of living and inflation pressures.
Another major improvement in the new EBA is the reduction of workload for lecturers, especially in terms of teaching hours and preparation time. Lecturers will now have a maximum of 20 teaching hours per week, down from 24 hours previously, which will allow them to have more time for student consultations, feedback, and research. In addition, the EBA has introduced a cap on class sizes, which means that lecturers will not have to teach more than 24 students per class in most cases. This will help to improve the quality of the teaching and learning experience for both lecturers and students, and reduce the risk of burnout and stress for lecturers.
The EBA also provides more job security for lecturers, by increasing the conversion rate of casual lecturers to permanent positions. Under the new agreement, casual lecturers who have worked for TAFE for more than 2 years will be offered a permanent position, subject to availability and performance. This will give casual lecturers more stability and benefits, such as sick leave, annual leave, and superannuation, and reduce the reliance on insecure work arrangements in the TAFE sector.
Furthermore, the EBA includes a range of professional development opportunities for lecturers, such as paid study leave, funding for conferences and workshops, and recognition of prior learning and teaching experience. This will enable lecturers to enhance their skills, knowledge, and qualifications, and keep up with the latest trends and practices in their respective disciplines. It will also benefit the TAFE colleges by having a more competent and motivated workforce, who can deliver high-quality education and training to the students.
Overall, the new WA TAFE lecturers agreement 2019 is a significant achievement for the lecturers, the TAFE sector, and the broader community. It reflects the value and importance of TAFE as a public education provider, and the recognition of lecturers as skilled and dedicated professionals who deserve fair and decent pay and conditions. It also sets a positive example for other states and territories to follow, in terms of investing in TAFE and supporting its role in the national skills agenda.
