Victorian TAFE teachers have not taken industrial action like this since 1995.

Teachers in Victorian TAFEs are now earning more than $13,000 a year less than school teachers.

TAFE teachers have not had a pay rise for nearly two years.

Senior management at Wodonga TAFE has stated they believe TAFE teachers deserve a pay rise and the minister responsible, Jacinta Allen, also says TAFE teachers deserve a pay rise.

Why then, after nearly two years are they still waiting for a pay rise?

And how much, minister?

Victorian TAFE teachers are employed directly by the TAFE college where they work and are not employed by the Government as in schools.

For TAFE teachers to get a salary increase the Brumby Government must agree to give the TAFE colleges the extra money for this salary increase.

Jacinta Allen and John Brumby refuse to approve extra money to be given to TAFE institutes to increase salaries for Victorian TAFE teachers.

Ms Allen continues to make noises about the vital role that TAFE teachers will play in helping fix the “skills shortage”, but she refuses to do anything to improve the salaries of Victorian TAFE teachers to ensure that they are retained in the system and not lost to higher-paid jobs in industry or schools.

Figures from a recent survey indicated 75 per cent of Victorian TAFE teachers have considered leaving TAFE in the past year, with 50 per cent saying they will not be here in five years.

How does Ms Allen think Wodonga TAFE will help address the skills shortage in this region if there are no experienced TAFE teachers left to teach and train new workers for the future?

The TAFE employers say they will increase Victorian TAFE teachers’ salaries if Ms Allen gives them the money.

Ms Allen says it is up to the TAFE directors and the AEU to negotiate any new pay increases.

And while they are arguing about who pays, teachers are caught in the middle.

While it is regrettable, the AEU called the strike.

It asks the Wodonga community to support local TAFE teachers in their campaign for fair and just salary increases.

Students need experienced and qualified TAFE teachers, these teachers are vital in helping reduce our state and national skills shortage.

TAFE teachers are there to train and educate people to be who they want to be.

— IAN LACK,

Wodonga TAFE sub-branch executive Australian Education Union