SSTUWA - State School Teachers' Union of Western Australia

Independent Public Schools Communication May 2011

Created on Wednesday, 18 May 2011 14:25 Written by Tony Mullen

The SSTUWA is opposed to the Independent Public Schools Program. It has major concerns at the short and long term impact of IPS on teachers/administrators conditions and the working/ learning environments in our government school system.

The development of a two tiered public education system, the longer term plans for schools funding, career path opportunities, job tenure, impact on return from country service arrangements, the general promotion of the program as a way to ‘get rid of poor performing teachers’, the undermining of the construct of a schools system and issues of fairness and equity are further concerns.

The international trend of British ‘academies’ and American ‘Charter Schools’ with a ramping up of the simplistic approach to accountability through national testing regimes should be enough to have the teaching profession concerned at this direction.

This issue is still ‘live’ in the WAIRC and the SSTUWA will take to the Commission any issues/practices cutting across our GA/ Teacher Award. Members in current IPS schools are requested to bring to the attention of the Union office any issues or concerns.

The SSTUWA-DoE IPS Reference Group continues to operate and has helped in resolving some issues.

SOME ISSUES COMING TO THE FORE

• Unilateral changes to staffing profiles with loss of administrative positions;
• Loss of specialist teacher positions;
• Decrease in number of schools available for EIPs;
• Inferences that staff with EIP status may be of less quality;
• Policy changes which risk leaving broad and varied interpretations workplace by workplace;
• Increased workload demands;
• Lack of transparency and tensions around consultation
• A belief that that if ‘sick leave credits’ in the salary pool are spent then sick leave is not available – NOT TRUE

These matters are being taken up with the Department and through the WAIRC.

AMENDOLA REPORT: The Barnett Government has released the Amendola Report after 14 months. Amendola was one of the architect’s of Howard’s Work Choices. We have on the table again the spectre of individual contracts, removal of the concept of ‘bargaining in good faith, gutting of the WAIRC ... and much more. In the context of IPS this is very worrying. KEEP YOURSELF INFORMED.

IF YOU ARE AN INDEPENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOL

• Make sure the conditions in your Agreement are not being undermined
• Ensure the Union Office [Michel Amati/ Anne Gisborne] is notified if you are concerned about any activity in your schools

ACTION Make sure that you have:

• A Union Rep who is getting his/ her union rep release time
• A Union Branch
• A Workload Advisory Committee (WAC)
• A collaborative work environment with good communications
• Staff representation on the School Council with regular communication to staff on Council matters
• Report your concerns to the Union office

IF YOU ARE NOT AN INDEPENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOL & CONSIDERING IT

• Work to ensure that there is open and transparent discussion re the proposal
• Understand the pros and cons
• Make sure that there are opportunities for all perspectives to be heard by staff and community [call for a Union voice/perspective to be heard in such forums]
• Invite your Union out to talk to staff
• Call for a process for decision making that will ensure that the staff and community voice is ‘measured’
• Make sure your School Council has been properly constituted
• Make sure that staff representatives on the School Council have been duly elected and are representing the voice of staff

ACTION

• Insist that proper consultative processes are in place
• Make sure you understand the Union’s position on the IPS Program
• Meet as a branch and have a branch position, advice formally your School Council