Budget cuts target TAFE teachers
HUNDREDS of TAFE teachers in regional NSW are about to feel the pain of the State Government's budget cuts, union chiefs have warned.
As words spread of massive cuts to programs and staff in the Hunter region on Wednesday, Teacher's Federation President Maurie Mulheron said it was only the beginning.
He predicted at least 500 jobs would go this year and labelled the 73% of casual staff in the TAFE system endangered.
While the impact on North Coast TAFE's remains to be seen, a Clarence Valley source said on Wednesday night, program funding could be cut by up to 50%.
Mr Mulheron said every region in the state would be impacted by staffing cuts and programs being contracted out to "shoddy, fly-by night" training providers.
He said the union's biggest concern was that NSW TAFE teachers would be forced to join the thousands of displaced Victorian colleagues in the job queue
