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NSW Premier Kristina Keneally has urged TAFE teachers to drop a planned strike over pay and conditions, saying the industrial action is illegal.
A simmering row over pay and conditions has led NSW TAFE teachers to call a 24-hour, state-wide strike for Thursday, in breach of an Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) recommendation they not do so.
Ms Keneally described NSW TAFE teachers as the best paid in the country, with first year teachers earning about $69,000, and those on the top salary almost $82,000.
She said the 12.48 per cent pay rise over three years was generous.
Ms Keneally urged teachers to abide by the IRC's October ruling and its recommendation last week that they not go ahead with the strike.
'We see this as an illegal strike,' she said.
'We urge the TAFE teachers not do that. We urge the TAFE teachers to follow the direction of the commission, to abide by the ruling of the independent umpire, the IRC, and accept the Supreme Court's ruling on this matter.'
The IRC ruled in favour of the Department of Education and Training in October, when the government applied to increase TAFE teaching hours as a productivity trade-off for a pay increase.
In December an appeal by the NSW Teachers Federation was rejected by the NSW Court of Appeal.
However, the union has continued its campaign, with radio and television advertising aimed at pressuring the government into renegotiating the deal.
The dispute was forced back to the IRC last week, with the government accusing the union of intransigence in implementing the new pay deal.
The IRC cautioned the union against further strike action, a recommendation now being ignored by teachers.
NSW Teachers Federation says the state government was requiring TAFE teachers to work an extra five hours a week, valuing each hour at $3, and equating the new conditions with the unpopular Work Choices regime.
'TAFE teachers are striking in protest at the imposition of Work Choices-type conditions on TAFE teachers and Premier Keneally's unfulfilled promise from December 18 last year to meet with the Teachers Federation,' union president Bob Lipscombe said.
'I call on the premier to meet with us immediately to negotiate a settlement to this dispute.'
A strike was held over the same issue in early November.
