The SSTUWA congratulates all schools / branches who did not proceed to place an application forward in the current process to be considered as an Independent Public School.  

Apart from the general position of the Union on this matter, the lack of consulation with a key representative group such as the SSTUWA prior to the announcement, the indecent haste in the timeline for nomination, the lack of detail with regard to “proper process in consulation” and lack of clarity as to what the flexibilities mean has made the process “suspect” to say the least.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

• Executive decisions 11 September 2009
• Branch “audit” in nominating schools
• DET-SSTUWA on-going consultation
• Branches in Independent Public Schools [FINAL LIST]
• Congratulations to non-applicant schools

EXECUTIVE DECISIONS 11 SEPTEMBER ’09

Executive received a report back on progress of this matter at the 11 September 2009 Executive. The following resolutions were endorsed unanimously:

• 1.     That the Union expresses its alarm at the risks associated with the erosion of members’ conditions and affirms that the Union will strongly defend members’ hard won salaries and conditions.
• 2.    That the Union writes to the over 700 schools who have not made application to the IPS to congratulate them on their strong stance in the face of the erosion of the implementation of the public system.
• 3.    That the SSTUWA immediately contact the schools on the IPS list with a view to ascertaining the level of consultation that occurred with teachers and administrators to have them nominated for IPS status.
• 4.     That the Union:
  • (i)     verifies the consultation process in such schools including the authority of the school council;
  • (ii)     brings the union reps from such schools in for union rep training;
  • (iii)     arranges for mechanisms to review and monitor such schools with a view to intervening if conditions are undermined;
  • (iv)     ensure that the WACs be established as a matter of priority and supported at the school level as required in the 2008 General Agreement.
• 5.     The SSTUWA again reiterates its concerns at the establishment of IPS, in particular the failure of Government and DET to consult with the SSTU and its members, the poor consultation in the application process, the impact on the broad needs of the system and the development of policy ‘on-the-run’.
• 6.    That we continue to work on this matter with the CSA & LHMU.
• 7.    That the SSTU expresses its outrage at the decision to implement IPS and calls on its members to strike over the issue at a time to be determined by the Union.
• 8.    That the SSTU seek to engage members affiliated to UnionsWA in the SSTU campaign against independent public schools.

BRANCH “AUDIT” IN NOMINATING SCHOOLS

The Union will be writing to the branches in each of the 102 schools who have nominated to be considered as Independent Public Schools in order to ascertain details with regard to the consultation process in the schools.

DET-SSTUWA ON-GOING CONSULTATION

The SSTUWA will continue to be engaged in two levels of on-going consultation with regard to the Independent Public Schools implemenation. This includes:

• [1] The Independent Public Schools Working Group

This group is chaired by the Director General. It includes representatives from the LMHU, CPSU, SSTUWA, WACSSO, WADHSAA, WAESPAA, WAPPA, WASSEA, various DET Executive Directors and the Deputy Director General, Finance and Administration. Its brief is to raise issues and provide advice to the Director General on matters associated with the implementation of the Independent Public Schools Policy.

• [2] The DET-SSTUWA Group meeting arising out of the WAIRC matter

A DET-SSTUWA group to enable the SSTU to bring directly to DET’s attention issues impacting on members. Regular report backs to the WAIRC will occur from the work of this group.

BRANCHES IN INDEPENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS [FINAL LIST]

When the final list of schools is made public on 24 September 2009, the SSTUWA will be contacting all schools to provide supports for Union Reps and members.

Matters to be brought into consideration will include:

• The management of EIPs
• The establishment and operation of Workload Advisory Committees [GA 2008 Clause 57]
• The training of Union Reps in the conditions of the 2008 General Agreement & Teachers’ Award
• Monitoring & review processes

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