Staff force TAFE to negotiate

BY CHRISTOPHER PERKINS

WOLLONGONG — Illawarra Institute of TAFE management have agreed to negotiate with TAFE library staff representatives on September 10 in an effort to halt an escalating industrial dispute over job and budget cuts.

The library staff, members of the NSW Public Service Association (PSA) called a lightning stop-work meeting on September 4 across the institute's 13 libraries. Staff in the Upper Illawarra region attended a lunchtime rally in Wollongong, outside the institute management's office complex.

The rally was attended by around 60 demonstrators, including a large number of TAFE students as well as library and teaching staff.

In addition, library staff have maintained restrictions on working hours during the past several months. PSA regional organiser Felix Bronneberg has assisted unionists' determined campaign with a successful media offensive. Morale amongst the 30 PSA members at the centre of the dispute remains rock solid.

From GLW issue 463