TAFE Institute Restructures

With the Lifelong Learning/Corporate Services Department-wide restructures reaching their latter phases, the PSA has been inundated with Institutes planning to restructure varying areas of their own operations. Below is the first of many future updates regarding the status of some of the numerous Institute restructures.

NEW ENGLAND INSTITUTE

In February 2004 Gary Pollock and NEIT management announced plans to restructure the Institute. Whilst the proposal was claimed to maintain the "...regional footprint..." and merely "...realign support services to produce better outcomes for our customers..." which would provide the PSA with some hope, all it contained were proposed job losses. The proposed restructure comes after NEIT reportedly returned $3M in unspent funding in the prior financial years, and therefore couldn't be said to be driven by economic restraints. Hardest hit are the student administration areas, with staffing on many campuses cut by 50 or 60%, but with no measurable reduction in work.

NEIT then engaged on an extensive consultation process with both the PSA and the Teacher's Federation. During this time the two industrial groups jointly produced their own detailed proposal for structural change, which focussed on student rather than commercial outcomes, and maintained current staffing levels. The consultation period formally ended on Friday 21 May 2004 with the submission presented to NEIT management for consideration.

On 28 May 2004 NEIT management tabled their final model which they now intend to implement, and not surprisingly, little has changed from their original proposal. The consultation period was performed in theory but not in spirit. The PSA and Teacher's Federation are now embarking on an extensive media campaign to alert the general public of the impact of the proposed restructure and increase political pressure for change. This campaign will include in a public rally in Tamworth on Saturday 5 June 2004.

SOUTH-WESTERN SYDNEY INSTITUTE

Despite the rhetoric from management in this Institute, negotiations with the PSA regarding the proposed restructure in this Institute have barely begun.

Last week the PSA was furnished with a restructure proposal from SWSI management that was inadequate. It failed to provide sufficient rationale for the restructure, nor provide pre and post-restructure organisational charts, nor detail where work was being re-routed or the 29 positions proposed to be deleted.

Those familiar with the LLL/CS restructures will recall that the Industrial Relations Commission previously considered these to be pertinent materials for consultation. The PSA has requested these documents and intends to hold meetings of members in all affected campuses in the near future to gauge member opinion and will subsequently seek further consultation with SWSI management.

The PSA is also concerned with the Institute's intention to fill the new structure on an interim basis from 1 July 2004. The institute should comply with the DET/TAFE guidelines by substantively filling the final structure.

WESTERN INSTITUTE

The Institute's 'Best Way Forward' review is proceeding. The general thrust of this restructure was the abolition of campus managers and team leaders, replacing them with Director of Educational Delivery (DED - truly!) positions and Head of Administration positions that will be more highly graded but bridged across several geographically spread campuses. Members have raised numerous thoughtful concerns regarding the review which are being raised and addressed in regular meetings with WI management.

NORTH SYDNEY INSTITUTE

After having it in suspense for many years, North Sydney Institute management have agreed to revisit their Class Support Review. Whilst the PSA would normally be concerned about the ramifications, in NSI this can only be a positive due to the casualisation of seemingly their entire class support workforce.

The PSA has been told that the review will involve staff multi-skilling but would also secure tenure of employment for these members, some of which who have been employed on a temporary basis for more than ten years ! Consultation regarding this review is yet to commence.

NORTH COAST INSTITUTE

NCI have a restructure on foot in respect of their marketing capability. Their review essentially centralises course information services out of campuses and into the institute, utilising a call centre and internet technology. While there appear to be little or no net job losses, this restructure signals the worrying trend of the Institutes to service prospective interstate or international students in preference to their local area.

ILLAWARRA INSTITUTE

There has been a long, drawn-out Class Support Review in the Illawarra for a number of years. Institute management and the PSA had agreed to temporary implementation, until the AWU lodged a dispute in the commission. The Commission ordered that the parties (the PSA and AWU) meet and attempt to resolve the matter. This is yet to occur. In the interim the PSA believes that despite the dispute, the Institute should implement their new structure in the areas not affected and later move onto the other areas.

RIVERINA INSTITUTE

There has been another long-term Class Support Review in this Institute which was shelved a few years ago and not revisited since. The PSA understands that the Institute has surveyed the Colleges regarding their needs and now wants to move towards implementing the review on a college-by-college basis. The PSA intends to resist this process and insist on only negotiating on a centralised, Institute level.

Hopefully this information will serve to keep you updated about restructures in yours and other Institutes. Keep your eyes and ears open about trends in your local area, and stay involved in future campaigns.

CONTACTS

For further information contact the relevant Industrial Staff at the PSA on (02) 9220 1555 or the following Regional Organisers :

Illawarra Institute - Felix Bronneberg (Wollongong) 02 4226 4749
New England Institute - Peter Szacsvay (Tamworth) 02 6766 5488
North Coast Institute - Boyd Kellner (Lismore) 02 6621 4450
Western Institute - Michael Fogarty (Bathurst) 02 6332 1720
Riverina Institute - Peter Hood (Wagga Wagga) 02 6921 6522
Hunter Institute - Neil Wilkins (Newcastle) 02 4929 4788