BusVic has urged the Australian Education Union and the state's government to resolve a dispute over work hours
January 30, 2013
BusVic has urged the Australian Education Union (AEU) and the Victorian Government to
resolve a dispute over work hours.
BusVic has joined ranks with Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) and the Australian Camps Association to voice concerns the ongoing dispute will have a detrimental effect on tours, camps and excursions.
As part of the dispute, the AEU issued a ban on work outside the 38-hour week.
The ban was due to
start today and will mean no camps or excursions outside school hours, which could affect tour bus
operators.
BusVic Executive Director Chris Lowe says one tour bus operator has reported that about forty, five-day-long school tours, regularly booked in term 1
are at risk of being cancelled or not booked.
“One operator stands to lose approximately $250,000 of regular term 1 revenue as a direct result of this ongoing dispute,” he says.
“Jobs are at risk. This dispute is having a negative flow on affect through the wider economy and we don’t think this has been considered. We all know teachers do a lot of work outside school hours so let’s not try and reinvent the nature of the teaching profession and sort this out.”
VTIC Chief Executive Dianne Smith says a significant component of the tourism industry relies on the education market for its success and sustainability.
“This extends not only to tour operators, but the attractions and the towns that these are within as well,” Smith says.
Australian Camps Association CEO David Petherick says the associations are disappointed that camps and businesses such as bus and adventure tourism operators have been dragged into the dispute.
“It is also disturbing that very significant numbers of students now seem likely to miss out on valuable camp and outdoor education programs in the coming weeks and perhaps months,” he says.