MORE than 200 TAFE staff, including part-time and full-time administration and support workers, have been told their jobs have been “deleted” and they will be put off before Christmas, the NSW Public Service Association said this week.
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However, the claims have been denied by North Coast TAFE.
The association, which represents TAFE staff, said in a press release that the cuts followed the disastrous implementation of a new computer system across NSW that had botched enrolments.
TAFE staff said they were told by video conference their jobs were being "deleted", PSA acting general secretary Steve Turner said.
“Some jobs will be replaced by temporary contracts at call centres at Kingscliff and Port Macquarie on much lower rates of pay," he said.
“There will be a few staff remaining at local colleges, but they will be forced to take pay cuts of up to 30 per cent to keep a job.”
However, North Coast TAFE Institute director Elizabeth McGregor rejected the association's claims.
Mrs McGregor told The Macleay Argus the North Coast TAFE was definitely not putting off more than 200 staff before Christmas.
TAFE was changing 197 jobs and not removing 200 jobs, she said.
“In consultation with staff, North Coast TAFE is redesigning its customer engagement and student administration structure which will affect 197 existing full-time and short term positions, but more importantly will create more full-time, long-term positions,” Mrs McGregor said.
“In terms of full-time-equivalent positions, we are increasing the current number from 87 to 157 full-time permanent and long term contracts.
“This would actually increase the number of full-time, long-term roles than we have currently. On top of that there will be up to 40 short-term contracts.”
Mrs McGregor said at the request of the unions, North Coast TAFE had agreed to extend the period of consultation with staff so final details, position descriptions, numbers and timelines were not yet in place for the Kempsey TAFE campus.
“We can say that numbers of staff will vary according to customer demand across the year,” Mrs McGregor said.
“This means it’s always going to be difficult to estimate the exact number of staff since it will vary based on customer demand at different times of the year.
“At peak times we estimate that staff numbers will be similar to the number of staff working in the current structure.
“One strong theme that has emerged from our consultation with staff to date is that we anticipate an increased need for a virtual team.
“The virtual team members would be able to be based in any town in our footprint and provide staff in Kempsey TAFE Campus with additional job opportunities.”
