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Is the Australian Technical College a Trojan Horse?
The Australian Technical College Northern Tasmania could well prove to be the "Trojan Horse" in reducing pay and conditions for teachers in Tasmania. Secretary of the Tasmanian Catholic Education Employees' Association (TCEEA) Angela Briant said that a number of members had expressed concern about the employment conditions and the contracts being offered by one of Tasmanian's newest educational institutions, the Australian Technical College Northern Tasmania. "Teachers in Tasmanian schools have struggled long and hard for good working conditions and salaries. These conditions have been won collectively by the membership and represent the committed work of many union members over many years," said Ms Briant "Unfortunately the ATC Northern Tasmania job application package seeks to immediately begin to undermine these conditions," she said. The federal government's new Work Choices legislation not only makes this possible but indeed encourages such a process. "What we see initially is a reduction in holidays, no clear statements on salaries and who knows what in terms of sick leave, long service leave and maternity leave to name but a few. What price does one put on these conditions when the information package simply states: 'Package depending on skills, knowledge and experience'? "These conditions have not been negotiated with potential employees or the union and it appears that it is intended they will merely be determined by the proprietors. This is not good enough." A consortium of St Patrick's College Launceston, the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Northern Group Training and Industry and Learning Partners is planning to open their initial campus of the Australian Technical College at Riverside in August this year. Ms Briant also debunked the fallacy that some people hold about the industrial arrangements for ATCs. "There is a view that staff employed by an Australian Technical College would compulsorily be employed under an Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA). "This is incorrect. "In other States our union has negotiated an Agreement which maintains the conditions currently contained in the relevant State Awards or Collective Agreements. "These agreements are collective agreements NOT individual ones," she said. "This happens already in the Lismore Diocese in northern NSW, for example. "It needs to be noted that the Federal Government arrangements for the funding of ATCs require AWAs to be offered. There is no compulsion for employers to offer only AWAs or for staff to accept such arrangements," said Ms Briant. The TCEEA will seek discussions with the proprietors of the ATC Northern Tasmania to discuss both conditions of employment and the nature of employment agreements. In the interim TCEEA Secretary Angela Briant strongly recommends that prospective employees should contact the union for advice and information. Ends
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