AFTER more than 20 years at TAFE NSW, Liz Garlick has seen her role deleted and is facing two choices.
"I have to compete with everybody else in TAFE for a job, or I get on the Centrelink queue," said Ms Garlick, the delegate for the Community and Public Sector Union and Public Service Association NSW at Tighes Hill campus.
"I'm scared for my future, I'm still young, I've still got a lot to give.
"I've been working for TAFE for 21 years. I never thought in 21 years I would have to prove my capability to fight for a job.
"I'm a loyal employee, I love what I do, I love the students and the teachers and the interaction and the community spirit."
Ms Garlick is a policy analyst in procurement, responsible for buying teaching resources.
She said her role was identified in the restructure of her unit as 'excess' and she doesn't have a place in the new structure.
"It's gone, they put a system in place to replace a human," she said. "The job I'd be applying for is a completely different job."
Ms Garlick has colleagues in the Student Services and Facilities Management and Logistics teams, which are being restructured as part of the One TAFE operating model.
She said Student Services staff were on the frontline.
"A student comes to the counter and they're upset, they're the ones with the tissue box, they're the ones that are listening to the students' woes about enrolment or what's happening in their class, directing them and supporting them."
Ms Garlick said she was worried about safety.
"TAFE has an obligation to provide a safe workplace, how is it going to be safe without the security guards that have the local knowledge, who know me by name, who know me by face, who know my car - if I get in trouble, who's going to be there? I'm scared for myself, my colleagues and my community."
The CPSU said TAFE NSW documents showed 678 roles would be cut, including up to 470 in regional NSW. It said 80 would be lost in the Hunter.
TAFE NSW has said the changes will reduce duplication and management layers and it expected a reduction of fewer than 50 jobs.
The CPSU organised a rally at Tighes Hill on Thursday, which staff, students, Shadow Minister for Skills and TAFE Jihad Dib, Labor politicians and union members attended.
They called for the reversal of the sale of Scone campus and job cuts.
A Student Services team leader told the Herald staff were being treated as if they were "disposable, like deadwood".
"Even though I get paid to work 35 hours a week it's not unusual to do 50 - and I'm not needed anymore?"
They said their role had been deleted in the new structure.
"I have to wait until everyone goes through the recruitment process and if there's anything left then I can apply for it."
