By Francesca Davidson
MELBOURNE — The Victorian government began its public sector cutbacks last year by slashing 9300 jobs, closing 52 schools and four campuses. Education has been worst hit with 3700 cleaners, 2175 teachers, 500 public servants and 330 teachers from school support centres being sacked.
Now Kennett wants to cut another 8500 jobs over three years in transport, plus 2500 jobs in health and another 2000 teachers by June.
In addition to "natural attrition", originally there were to have been "only" 11,000 "voluntary redundancies" in the public sector, but Alan Stockdale, the treasurer, now indicates that these may eventually go up to 19,000. The state government received $600 million from the Keating government to fund public sector job cuts, but might ask for more.
The State Public Service Federation has produced evidence that workers are being pressured and intimidated into applying for "voluntary redundancies". This is being done through individual interviews, memos and circulars warning that redundancy packages may not be offered to those who do not accept the first round of offers, according to SPSF vice-president Karen Batt.
Some of these documents state that there is no place in the new order for public service workers who don't accept employment contracts, multiskilling and job rotation. Union activists have been harassed.
At immediate risk are the 2000 or more teachers who did not take the redundancy packages and who are in the so-called "excess pool". The pool has been swelled by hundreds of teachers unexpectedly returning from unpaid leave out of fear for their jobs.
According to education minister Don Hayward, these teachers will be used for emergency and replacement teaching until permanent positions can be found for them or they accept voluntary redundancies. Hayward aims to eliminate the pool by June.
While the government denies any intention of sacking those teachers in "excess", Peter Lord, president of the Federated Teachers Union, believes teachers will be forced to go if the government is to remain within its projected budget.
There is also increasing concern about teachers' working conditions if the "excess pool" is abolished. Who will fill in as emergency teachers or for teachers who are ill? Will already overworked teachers be forced to work even longer hours?
A survey done by the Australian Teachers' Union has found a fall in conditions for both teachers and students in secondary education generally. Sixty-six per cent of primary classes had more than 25 students and 42% of secondary classes. About 34% of classrooms were in need of maintenance and one in three was inadequately cooled.
Education funding has declined under both Liberal and Labor governments and is expected to fall to 3.6% of GDP by 2001, according to the survey. John Hewson's Fightback promises to further increase funding to the private schools. The Liberal government in Victoria has demonstrated its lack of commitment to meaningful and accessible education by closing Northlands High and Ardoch Windsor Secondary College, schools catering specifically to the needs of Koori and homeless students.
A festival and rally was held on the January 16 at Richmond Secondary College for the "Save the Schools" campaign. Students, parents, teachers and concerned residents have occupied Richmond College throughout the holiday period and intend to continue the occupation.