It follows Wednesday’s Supreme Court challenge by the Teachers Federation against an Industrial Relations Commission decision to grant the Department of Education and Training’s application for changes to TAFE teaching and working hours.

Two members of the full bench were part of the conciliation process, a fact objected to by the Teachers Federation.

Under the Industrial Relations Act, a member of the full bench who attempted conciliation of an industrial dispute is not to exercise arbitration powers if a party of the proceedings objects.

The federation applied to have two of the three members of the bench disqualified from hearing the matter but they declined to do so.

If the federation wins the appeal, the matter would return to the court under different judges but the decision could still be upheld.

Meanwhile, TAFE teachers throughout NSW have vowed to continue to fight what they call unfair and unreasonable working conditions.

Tamworth federation representative Jean Coady said efforts to persuade the department and the Education Minister would continue.

“If these changes are accepted, we will lose TAFE teachers because the working conditions are too difficult,” she said.

A delegation hopes to meet with either Member for Tamworth Peter Draper or representatives from the department in Tamworth today.

“We need to put our case,” Ms Coady said.

“It is very difficult, especially for casual teachers, who don’t know what will happen next year.”