AWAs Forced On Darwin Technical College Staff

The Federal Government's ideological obsession with industrial relations is being imposed on Darwin's new Australian Technical College Senator Trish Crossin says.

"The Darwin College's CEO/Principal position was advertised on the weekend and it seems candidates are only being offered an Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA)” Senator Crossin said.

"This would be especially concerning for other staff in the college's administration if they are only offered AWA's.

"If their contracts are not based on an existing award they may miss out on the standard of conditions that we take for granted such as annual leave and overtime.

"The college will primarily rely on partnering with existing Northern Territory secondary schools, their staff and facilities and registered training organisations where staff are predominantly on awards and contracts based on awards.

"I can't see any reason other than the Federal Government' ideological arrogance built up over ten long years that the Technical College staff should be disadvantaged by having to go on AWAs.

"We are told the WorkChoices package is meant to give employees choice.

"Therefore the Darwin College's CEO/Principal and other staff should have the choice of being employed under a collective or enterprise agreement.

"I call on the members of the consortium behind the Darwin Technical College to tell Territorians that they have a choice in how they are employed – they DON'T have to have an AWA or hit the education highway” Senator Crossin said.

2006-10-17