Hyperlinked Items
2011 LOG of CLAIMS [Schools]
2011 LOG of CLAIMS [TAFE]
SCHOOL LIBRARIANS  (attachments below)
ETC TERM 4 TRAINING INFORMATION (attachments below) 
SSTUWA COMMITTEE ELECTIONS 

Dear Union Members,

Welcome back to the final term of the 2011 school year. We wish you all the best in the coming term.

Union Communications
These weekly e-streams are the key means of communication with members. Union Reps/ Workplace Reps are requested to ensure that the attention of members is drawn to important matters, especially where member action is requested. Members are urged to keep up to date with activities of your Union through these regular communications. The effectiveness of your Union is dependent on an informed membership.

2011 Log of Claims [Schools]
For the latest on the progress of negotiations see Communication 35 attached.

Click here for Communication 35

Click here for Teacher Placement E-mail to local MP

Click here for RTS & CTP Allowances Email to local MP

2011 Log of claims [TAFE] 
On Tuesday 20th September the employers indicated that they would be going back to the Government seeking to provide a 2nd offer to TAFE lecturers but were unable to provide any timelines. Until now, no second offer has been received by our Union.

At its meeting held last Thursday (13th October), TAFE Committee indicated its frustration at the lack of a 2nd offer. TAFE branches have been asked to consider a range of industrial action and provide feedback to TAFE Committee reps. TAFE Committee will considering the branch feedback at a meeting this week Thursday 20^th October to be held at Solidarity Park.

More information is provided in Negotiation News Round 16 attached.

Click here for Negotiation News Round 16

SSTUWA & AEU ELECTIONS 
The final result of the SSTUWA elections has been made known. Further details are in the next edition of the Western Teacher. The new Executive will take up office on 1 January 2012.  Congratulations to the newly elected Senior Officers and Executive. The results of the AEU election are still being counted.

JOINT UNION VISIT TO GOLDFIELDS
UnionsWA will facilitate a joint public sector unions’ visit to the Goldfields, 31 October – 2 November 2011. The SSTUWA will participate in this visit and further details will be provided to Goldfield schools shortly. We look forward to meeting with members at this time.

PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN - FEDERAL SCHOOLS’ FUNDING
ACCSSO, AGPPA, ASPA and the AEU will be supporting a National Public Education day on Tuesday 15 November 2011. The SSTUWA will be supporting activities in a number of schools in the Brand, Canning, Swan and Hasluck federal electorates. We will also be encouraging other schools to take the time to focus on the importance of public education and the need for a new and fair funding system. Members will also be invited to contribute via an email campaign. Please be aware ... your employer is not allowed to get out there and support our public schools on this issue.

SCHOOL LIBRARIANS
Our school librarian colleagues continue their struggle to ensure that governments, federal and state, provide support and funding for dedicated and qualified teacher librarians. Their hard work resulted in a Federal Government Inquiry. A report has been brought down and now it is time for us to get on board and support their efforts. See further detail below.

Yours sincerely
Anne Gisborne
President 

Act Now for Inquiry Report Response

13 October 2011

Dear Supporter of Quality School Libraries in Australia

It has been two years since we started petitioning the government to arrest the decline in school library staffing in Australia. Thanks to you, we successfully initiated the House Inquiry into School Libraries and Teacher Librarians in 2010. Thanks to you,  the newly formed Gillard government tabled the Inquiry Report on May 23rd 2011.

We need your help once again.

The government must now be urged to respond to that report THIS YEAR.  The last House sitting is the 24th of November.

Ring your local federal member right now.  

You can find your electorate here and find your local federal member here.

Ask your local federal member (their staff officer in your local electorate office can pass on your message) to urge Julia Gillard to respond to the Report of the Inquiry into School Libraries and Teacher Librarians in 21st Century Australia now.

Or for an email, you can use or adapt the following:

__________________________________________________________________________

I call on the federal government to ensure that all Australian primary and secondary students have access to a school library and a qualified teacher librarian.

As it has done in the past, the federal government is in a position to influence state school library funding and staffing. To do this, it can: 

• collect national data on school library staffing, funding, and scheduling; 
• tie funding so that states can and must adequately staff and fund school library programs and services; 
• require that literacy programs and other national curricula should explicitly recognize the central role school libraries have in student achievement, literacy attainment, and preparation for post-secondary success; 
• develop national school library standards; 
• increase teacher librarian training positions in university programs.

The eleven report recommendations are not costly nor difficult and aim to advance student literacy and learning through the collection of data including a workforce gap analysis, extending programs for the training of teacher librarians, supporting Australian research similar to that overseas which has demonstrated the link between school library staffing, funding and scheduling with student achievement and literacy, lowering the cost of online databases for schools, and development of a national policy on information and digital literacy.  

I would also like a body be set up to formulate up-to-date guidelines for school library staffing and funding as asked for in many of the 387 submissions. The government should also fund the placement of teachers in teacher librarian programs to meet the severe decline in numbers in most of our states and territories. 

Lastly I ask you to show your commitment by signing the School Library Service Declaration at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/school-library-service-declaration.html

It is the responsibility of federal and state and territory governments to maximise educational outcomes for all Australian students through quality school library services with qualified staff. 

Thank you for your consideration and support,

NAME, ADDRESS

Education & Training

Union Representative Training – 2 day course. 21^st & 22^nd Nov 2011 (TUT)
Strictly limited number of places available.
Deadline Friday 21^st October 2011.

Click here for more information & registration

Country Union Representative & IPS Training – Mon 21^st – Wed 23^rd Nov 2011 (TUT)
Strictly limited number of places available
Deadline Friday 21^st October 2011.
Travel and Accommodation  for selected country candidates.

Click here for more information & registration

IPS Independent Public Schools.  (TUT)
Special Guest Speaker
Professor Al Rainnie,
Research Fellow
Putting the Public First?
Independent Public Schools.

Click here for more information & registration

A Forum for School Leaders 25^th November 2011
Accountability for Schools and School Leaders 
What counts & who’s counting?
Guest Speaker Prof Stephen Dinham

Click here for more information & registration