Schools Bulletin No. 12 - 28 August 2006

Education for Everyone’s Needs/State Election campaign, the Federal Industrial Relations campaign and Haileybury Student Poaching were all issues included on the agenda for Council meetings on Friday, 25 August. This Bulletin summarises the major issues and decisions of Primary, Secondary, Joint and Branch Council meetings.

Education for Everyone's Needs

The "Education for Everyone's Needs" campaign continues in the lead up to the state election. The schools audit, targeting 29 electorates, is at the half way mark and has generated considerable local media including print, radio and TV highlighting local concerns and issues.

New TV Ad

A new television ad is currently being produced. TV ads will run for six weeks in the lead up to the state election to keep education as the number one voter issue and to continue pressure on all political parties. Radio ads are also under consideration.

Haileybury Poaching

Haileybury College has embarked upon an aggressive poaching exercise to bolster its reputation at the expense of other schools, approaching a number of girls and offering $18,000 full scholarships to take places in their new senior girls' stream.

Joint Primary and Secondary Council unanimously endorsed the following resolution:

"That the AEU Joint Primary and Secondary Council condemns the actions of Haileybury College in 'poaching' high achieving sport and academic students from government schools.

AEU Joint Primary and Secondary Council calls for greater accountability of expenditure of public money by independent schools."

Industrial Relations

Delegates Meeting & Rallies

Victorian Trades Hall Council (VTHC) is calling a meeting of all union workplace representatives on Wednesday 27 September at 10.00am. The venue is still being finalised. AEU Reps are asked to attend the meeting to find out the latest about the laws and the campaign. It is during the school holidays so it should be easier for more reps to attend.

The next ACTU Sky Channel meeting and rally to demonstrate against the federal industrial relations laws will be on 30 November. The Melbourne rally will be at the MCG and start at 9.00am. Full details of this and other rallies will be sent out later.

Attacks on Workers in WA

On 5 July 2006, the Australian Building Construction Commission (ABCC) started legal action in the Federal Court against 107 construction workers from the Perth to Mandurah rail project.

The Howard Government is trying to use its extreme work laws to financially hurt these 107 WA CFMEU members and their families. These unionists now face fines of $28,600 each. The WA 107 and their families also risk losing their homes because of crippling legal bills.

On 29 August, their fight for justice will go to the Federal Court. They need our support. Standing up for fellow workers is more important than ever before.

The WA 107 became a target after they stood by their colleague, CFMEU Shop Steward Peter Ballard. Peter was sacked after raising a string of safety problems on the rail line site.

Branch Council is supporting the workers who are facing these fines. Individual members, sub-branches and regions are encouraged to donate to the fighting fund at:

Mandurah Dispute Fighting Fund
Commonwealth Bank
BSB: 062018
Account Number: 10185992
Or contact the CFMEU at (03) 9341 3444.

Country IR Campaign

Between 9 October and 3 November all unions will be travelling around Victoria to take the campaign to rural and regional Victoria. Dates and venues will be advertised locally.

Visits by Federal Coalition Politicians

AEU Branch Council has authorised sub-branches to take protest action over the federal government's industrial relations laws if their workplace is visited by a federal coalition politician.

Sub-branches should notify the union whenever federal coalition politicians are to visit workplaces and notify the school council of their opposition to the visit.

Sub-branches are requested to demonstrate their opposition to the laws by:

• seeking to have the invitation withdrawn;

• organising appropriate protest action to highlight the attacks on the conditions of working people where the visit proceeds.

Such protest action may include:

• displaying placards

• dressing in black

• wearing black arm bands

• wearing protest badges

• seeking to have the politician meet a sub-branch delegation

• demonstrating when the politician arrives

• arranging for a letter or petition to be given to the politician

• informing local media of the sub-branch action.

If requested by the sub-branch, and if available, an elected member of the leadership or an AEU staff member will attend any protest action.

A-E Reporting Workshop

Date/Time: 5pm-7pm, Tuesday 10 October
Venue: AEU Building, 112 Trenerry Crescent, Abbotsford
Invitees: Teachers and principal class members from schools trialling the new A-E reporting system.

This AEU workshop will take the form of focus groups to provide feedback on and discuss the A-E model, progression points, reporting software, workload, parental feedback and the link to VELS implementation. A report of the findings will be sent to members.

To attend please contact Marlene McLean on 03 9418 4890 or email marlene.mclean@aeuvic.asn.au

AEU Gippsland Organiser Vacancy

The Australian Education Union Victorian Branch has a vacancy for a full time Country Organiser based in our Morwell Office.

Remuneration:
The annual salary for the position is $70,021 and a vehicle is provided. There is a non-contributory superannuation scheme.

Enquiries:
A position description and key selection criteria is available from our website www.aeuvic.asn.au in the section About Us under Job Vacancies. Any questions regarding this vacancy can be directed to Brian Henderson on (03) 9417 2822.

Applications:
Applications must be forwarded to Brian Henderson, PO Box 363, Abbotsford, 3067. The closing time is 12.00 pm on Friday, 15 September 2006.

Commencement:
The person appointed will commence duty on or about Monday 30 October, 2006.

MARY BLUETT
Branch President

ANN TAYLOR
Branch Deputy President