TAFE staff, supported by local school teachers, are fighting State Government moves to increase their working hours.

Blacktown TAFE's NSW Teachers' Federation representative Brian Clarke described them as ``work choices-style changes''.

``The changes sought have seen TAFE teachers increase their workload by 20per cent, for a pay rise of 1.5per cent,'' Mr Clarke said. ``Other changes see TAFE teachers lose their long service leave entitlements, as well as professional development, among other things.''

He said this would impair TAFE teachers' ability to deliver quality vocational education.

Blacktown Labor MP Paul Gibson is siding with the teachers against his own government. ``I'll be doing everything I can to help the teachers' case,'' he said.

``I think some of the trade-offs demanded are unacceptable, such as holding up payment of overtime.''

A spokeswoman for Education Minister Verity Firth said the Industrial Relations Commission had decided the teachers' case.

``The matter was only taken to the commission after the Teachers' Federation failed to find employee-related savings to match their substantial pay rise,'' she said. She also said that NSW TAFE teachers were the highest paid in Australia and that the increased working hours were in line with other states.

``Taking further industrial action won't achieve anything and will only hurt students and teachers,'' she said.