Dear Colleagues

I am delighted to advise teaching staff that the Victorian TAFE Association (VTA) representing TAFE CEOs yesterday reached agreement with the Australian Education Union (AEU) on a Heads of Agreement that will be translated into the form of a formal Multi Business Agreement.

TAFE CEOs yesterday indicated support for the package and we have been advised that the AEU TAFE & Adult Provision Council also voted to endorse the package.

We are very pleased that we now have a platform on which to finalise an Agreement which will provide for pay increases for teachers.

The State Government has approved the Heads of Agreement and the proposed salary increases which is a required part of the process.

The VTA and the AEU will be working to finalise the Multi Business Agreement documentation which will be provided to staff in the New Year and a ballot will then be held as part of the process in lodging the Agreement.

The processing of the Agreement is very complex and will unfortunately take some months to conclude. We hope to finalise all the necessary processes by April 2009. Pay increase arising from the Agreement are not able to be processed until the Agreement is formally lodged.

Salary increases
All ongoing staff and fixed term staff who are employed at the Institute at the date of lodgment of the Agreement will receive an initial 6.5% salary increase back dated to 1 October 2008.

For casual teaching staff, the operative date of the 6.5% increase in casual hourly rates will be the date of lodgment.

Other Changes
A revised Teacher career path through a new step T5 above the current T4.2 at the top of the Teacher scale will apply from 1 July 2009.

Pro rata long service leave will be available after 7 years and family leave will increase from 12 to 14 weeks.

There are numerous other aspects to the Agreement that will be reflected in the final documentation for your consideration.

I thank all teaching staff for their patience and continued support of the institute and our students.

Warm regards
Louise Palmer
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Director TAFE