The activist Special Interest Group model within the structure of the union has resulted in significant gains for casual workers in the NSW TAFE system. It is a model TAFE workers in other states must consider.
australia
Organising the Unorganised
Australia has one of the highest rates of part-time and casual work in the world, and three-quarters of part-time and casual workers are women. Casualisation is growing sharply. Two years ago, one in five workers was part-time or casual. Now it is one in four.
A Conversation with Ray Jackson from the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Watch Committee
“Nearly 80% of the Aboriginal people lost their lives to the soldiers’ and squatters’ guns and poison; to starvation and disease; and from the acute anguish arising from the loss… Read more »
State Education: The School of Hard Knocks!
Across the country, students and workers in all sectors of education are organising against cutbacks, increased costs and a “reform” agenda that is turning education into a servant of industry…. Read more »
Government Guts Equal Opportunity Law
Moira Rayner, Commissioner for Equal Opportunity in Victoria, thought her job was to let oppressed groups know about the Commission and encourage them to make complaints when they face discrimination…. Read more »
“They recognise my debt, but they won’t recognise my results!”
Jennifer Allen grew up in the western suburbs and studied arts at Melbourne University after getting excellent results in her VCE studying in an adult TAFE program. Jennifer deferred after… Read more »
“My work life became unbearable!”
In 1982 Karen Sellenger began teaching humanities in a technical school. She taught full-time in Melbourne’s northern suburbs until she took a “voluntary” redundancy package (VDP) in April 1993. I… Read more »
“You have to be very assertive to get assistance!”
Nasrin Aidvandi, who was born in Iran, is studying Computing Information Technology at the Monash University, Caulfield Campus. “Although I intend to study full-time this year, I may find that,… Read more »
“Job Satisfaction, It’s A Joke!”
Paula Pope is a sole parent who works as a sessional teacher. She teaches in the Associate Diploma of Community Development at Broadmeadows TAFE. “I get paid $23 per hour,… Read more »
“When a school closes, it can kill a community”
Susan Garrett is a TAFE student who lives in the small Gippsland town of Meeniyan. Her daughter, Liz, has just completed grade 6 at Meeniyan Primary School. “I’ve lived here… Read more »
