“What we will have is a totally deregulated staffing structure, with an increasing number of temporary positions, no incremental pay scale and no guaranteed executive structure."
''The department and the minister see this as a golden time. They can exploit the fact there are a lot of young people coming in and a cheaper workforce. But they can also change the culture by putting them on short-term or casual arrangements. We're extremely worried about the future of the profession.''
The attacks facing NSW teachers are similar to those faced by higher education staff. Our sector has already seen a dramatic increase in precarious employment, with as many as 77,000 staff in Australian universities employed as casuals. Large-scale casualisation has begun to undermine the sustainability of the academic profession in Australia.
On 28 October, unionists from both sides of the border came together to hear ACTU President Ged Kearney speak at the annual Labour Day dinner in Wodonga about the ACTU's Secure Jobs Better Future ...
ACTU President Ged Kearney will address the Unions NSW Council meeting (6pm, Thursday 17 November), to speak more about the inquiry into insecure work and the Secure Jobs, Better Future campaign.
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Unions have launched a new inquiry into insecure work in Australia.
Workers will have the opportunity to share their stories about the impact of casual and contract employment alongside community groups, unions and employers in a new national independent inquiry to investigate the extent of insecure work in Australia.
The inquiry is part of the Secure Jobs. Better Future campaign, and will be open for submissions between 2 November and 16 December, before public hearings in each state in February and March.
Share your story
The NTEU is asking you to share your experience and views of insecure work, particularly casual work in the higher education sector.
Submissions will be able to be lodged on the campaign website, securejobs.org.au, or by phoning a special insecure work hotline on 1300 362 223 (toll free).