AEU ACT 50 Years 1974-2024

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTOFCOUNTRY

TheAustralianEducationUnionACTBranch acknowledgestheNgunnawalpeople,theTraditional Custodiansofthelandonwhichweworkandlearn. Wealsoacknowledgeotherpeopleandfamilieswith connectionstothelandsoftheACT.

Wearegratefultobeabletoleaveourfootprints onthiscountry.

AngelaBurroughs

CathyRobertson

PamRichards

BronwynStevens

IanFoster

AlexiaBannikoff

CathyRobertson

RosemaryRichards

SusanBanks,MariaBastek,StephBurns, BarbaraDawson,AudreyDuke,Helen Hepburn,MargaretWada,SarahWarren

NickEvans

CassandraParkinson

MeganEtheridge

KevinPeoples &BiancaHennessy

CliveHaggar

BiancaHennessy

AngelaBurroughs

LanaRead,AnnamariaZuffo,PeterKent

RogerAmey

OscarJolly, PearlHarbour,TameekaThorley, BrittanyHerrington,JoshSmith

AngelaBurroughs

PatrickJudge

MICHELEO’NEIL PRESIDENT AUSTRALIANCOUNCILOFTRADEUNIONS

OnbehalfoftheAustralianunionmovement,I'mhonouredto congratulatetheAustralianEducationUnionACTBranchonreaching theremarkablemilestoneof50yearsfightingforeducatorsand education.

Teachers,schoolassistants,schoolleadersandTAFEteachersarethebeating heartofoureducationsystems.Yourwork,time,expertiseandcareareessential. Theworkyoudotodaywillreverberateforgenerations.Youquiteliterallyshapethe futureofournation.

Educatorsareoftenundervaluedbypolicymakersandgovernments,forcedtofight forpayandconditionsthatrecognisethecriticalimportanceoftheworkteachers do,makingastrongunionvoicevital.For50years,theAEUACTbranchhasbeen thatvoice-advocatingfiercelyandunwaveringlyforACTeducatorsandthe integrityoftheACTeducationsystem.

TheACTbranchhasnotchedupmanyhard-foughtwinsoverthosefivedecades. You'vewonnation-leadingimprovementstopayandconditions.You'veheldthe lineagainstshort-sightedcuts.You'veputeducationalequityandaccessatthe forefrontofthepoliticalagendainCanberra.Ourpubliceducationsystemisthe bedrockofamoreequitable,sustainableandinclusivefutureforAustralia.

Thosevictorieshavetakendetermination,solidarityandasteadfastcommitment tothecollectiveovertheindividual-theunionway.Weknowwearestronger together.

Thepayandconditionssecuredbyyourunionhaveledtheway,showingallofus whatcanbeachievedwhenaunionbranchisunited,focusedandambitious.As wefacethechallengesahead-insecurework,lowwagegrowth,risinginequality andarapidlychangingeconomy-theimportanceofunionshasneverbeen greater.

Asyoumeetthechallengesofthenext50years,knowthatyouhavethesupport andsolidarityoftheAustralianunionmovement.Westandwithyoutoday,and always,inthestruggleforjusticeanddignityforallworkers.

Congratulationson50tremendousyears.Here'sto50more.

Inunity,

MicheleO’Neil

PATRICKJUDGE SECRETARY ANGELABURROUGHS PRESIDENT

AUSTRALIANEDUCATIONUNIONACTBRANCH

Solidarityisafeeling.It’safeelingthatishardtodefine,butunion membersknowit.It’stheessenceofwhyweareunionists.Itreflects ourcollectivecommitmenttofairness,justice,equality,respect, dignityandsafety.Asunionists,werecognisethateverymember matters,theirmaterialconditionsmatter,andourpublicschools matter.Wefeelprideinsolidaritybecauseweknowthatwewillfight foreachother,forever.

Aunionisitsmembers.Inthispublicationreflectingonourunion’sachievements overitsfirst50years,wearepleasedtosharestoriesfrommembersgivingtheir accountsofsignificantmomentsintheirunionjourney.

Athemethatemergesfromthesecontributionsisthatofempowerment,particularly forwomenmembers.Formany,theunioniswheretheygainedconfidence, inspiration,friendshipandopportunity.Itisthroughtheunionthatmembers becameagentsofsocialchange.Asyouwillread,thishasnotbeenwithoutits challenges.Wedon’talwaysagreewitheachother,andwesometimeshave formidableforcesworkingagainstus.Thesememoriesbringtolifethemyriadways tensionswerenavigated.Somechallengeswerestage-managedorbulldozed, somerequiredinventive,delicateorpragmaticapproaches.

Everystoryinthisvolumerepresentsamember’slife,andasnapshotoftheir journey.Wethankallourcontributorsfortheirgenerosity,candourandvulnerability. Wehopeourcurrentmemberscanseewhatgreatshouldersourunionstandson.

This50thanniversarypublicationalsoprovidesanopportunityforusasabranch totakestockandreflectonourachievementsoveralongerperiod.AsAEUACT memberswetakecollectiveactiontoimproveourpayandconditions.Sohow havewefared?Exceptionallywell,thankstotheunitedeffortsofourmembers.

Whenourunionwasfoundedin1974,topteacherpaywas$10,077or$97,805in 2024dollars.Todayitis$121,077andwillriseto$129,106bytheendof2025. Whenourunionwasfounded,schoolleadersinprimaryschoolwerepaidlower ratesthantheirsecondarycolleagues.Whenourunionwasfounded,allsecondary andcollegeprincipalpositionswereheldbymen.Whatwouldhavebeenthefirst appointmentofafemalecollegeprincipalin1985wasoverturnedonappeal.Today, womenoccupythemajorityofcollegeprincipalshipsandareequally(butnot proportionally)representedassecondaryschoolprincipals.Whenourunionwas founded,promotionwasdeterminedbylengthofservice,notmerit.

We’vesecuredhugewinsinemployment conditionsprovidinggreatlyenhancedaccess tobirthandparentingleave.Today’s entitlementto24weekspaidparentingleave andsuperannuationcontributionsforupto104 weeksofpaidorunpaidleavewouldhavebeen unimaginabletoourearliestmembers.

Ourunionhasbeenattheforefrontofsocially progressivechange,winningnewemployment provisionsassociatedwithreproductiveleave, genderaffirmation,culturalleaveand provisionstoassistvictimsoffamilyand domesticviolence.We’vechampionedchange inrelationtoworkplaceviolenceandabuse, leadinggroundbreakingworkthat’simpacted allofAustralia’sschoolsystems.

Whilethereismuchofwhichtobeproud,the journeybetween‘then’and‘now’hastaken twistsandturnsthatreflectevolvingsocial, politicalandeconomictimes.Inthispublication ourhistoryistoldthroughfeaturearticles coveringperiodsofsignificantchangeforour union,interspersedwithcontributionsfrom rankandfilemembers.Incompilingthis volume,we’velearnedthatthechallengesof todayhavebeenfacedbefore.Wemustlearn fromourhistoryinaddressingemerging challengesandpursingopportunities.

Ourearlyyearscoincidedwithaperiodofrapid andsignificantchange.Secondwavefeminism sawmemberstacklesystemicsexismin education,curriculumcontentandsubjectarea availability.Inthe1970s,theunionmovement’s solidaritywithFirstNationspeoplewas evolving,asIndigenouspeoplefoughtforland rightsandestablishedtheAboriginalTent Embassy.Decadeson,opportunitiesfor womenandgirlshavechangedradically,but staffandstudentsconfrontrisingmisogynyin schools.Whilewehavemadehugeadvances inincorporatingAboriginalandTorresStrait Islanderperspectivesinourteaching,recent AEUresearchdetailsracismwithinworkplaces, culturalloadandidentitystrainfacedby AboriginalandTorresStraitIslandermembers.

Today,themostpressingchallengeconfronting theprofessionisthenationalteachershortage thatshowslittlesignofabating.Thisisa monumentalfailureofworkforceplanning: entirelypredictable,withwarningsignsignored liketheproverbialboilingfrog.Whenweboth enteredtheteachingprofessionascareer changeteachersin2012,therewasan oversupplyofteachersandreadyavailability ofreliefteacherstocoverclassroomteacher absences.Inadecade,theshortageof teachersandscarcityofcasualreliefis negativelyimpactingteacherworking conditions.Teachersandschoolleadersare workingunsustainablehours.

TheAEUhasplentyofworkaheadtomake ourgovernmentsfixthissituation.Withcreative thinking,ambitiousclaimsandconcerted advocacy,wecanwinbacktimeforour members.Weallneedtimeforourownlives, sowecanbringourbestselvestothe classroom.It’stimetobringbackthejoy ofteaching.

Ourhistoryencouragesustothinkbig. Throughoutthepast50years,AEUmembers stoodtogetherinsolidaritythroughsome impossiblychallengingtimes,andinsodoing, wonthepayandconditionswetakefor grantedtoday–conditionsthatthroughoutour historymighthaveseemedunimaginable.Our challenge,then,istopursueimmediateand necessarychangeswhilealsotakingonwhat iscurrentlyunimaginable.Withthismixof pragmaticandcreativethinking,ourbranch willcontinuetoleadthewayinitsambitions foragreatpubliceducationsystemforthe ACT,anddecentworkforthepeoplewho makeithappen.

Inunity, AngelaBurroughs and PatrickJudge

August2024

Imagetop:1981ACTTFandACTP&Ccallonthecommunityto completeandsendpostcardstoPrimeMinisterMalcolmFraser.

Then&Now

Reflectingon50Years

Markingamajormilestoneisarareopportunitytoreflectonthe historyofourunion-totakestockofwherewehavecomefrom andwherewearegoing.Astheincumbentpresidentithasbeen afascinatingexperiencereflectingonourfirst50years,and somethingofanemotionalroller-coaster.

Surveyingtheannalshasattimesbeendeeplysobering.Somany challengeswefacenowwerepresentatthestartandstillpersist today:fairfunding;classsizes;workload;adequateinfrastructure inpublicschools-properventilation,airconditioning,andnow functioningtoilets.

Therehavebeenmomentsofgreatamusement.Iwastickledto seea1981adfortheteachers’unionclubpromotinga‘Chicken andChampers’morning,$5ahead.Thentolearnthatthe introductionofrandombreathtestingin1988fuelsthedemise oftheclub.

Thereismuchthathasbeeninspiringandacauseforprideinthe workourmembershavedonesince1974andcontinuetodo today.Thislimitededitionmagazineembracesthewholegamut.

Inprintandonline

Thismagazineisnotintendedtobeacomprehensivehistory. Ratheritismuchlikemysurveyoftheunion’sarchive-selecting itemsofinterestandimportancealongtheway,sometimes delvingmoredeeply,sometimesskimminglightly.

Thisarchivalmaterialsitsalongsidearticlesbyawiderange ofpeoplereflectingontheirteachingexperienceindifferent decades,andthevalueandimportanceofbeingaunionmember. Thereisanotionalchronologywithatimelinebutsomearticles movebackandforthintime.Thedesignandlayoutofthe magazinepurposefullylendsitselftocasualperusalaswell asdedicatedreading.Feelfreetodipinandoutandseewhat catchesyourattention.Thecartoonsalonetellastory.

Thelongformversionsofin-deptharticlesappearontheAEU websiteinadedicated50yearsareaandappearinshortened forminthisprintpublication.

Itrustexploringbothpartsofthepublication,inprintandonline, willraiseyourawarenessofthepersistingchallengesourunion faces,increaseyourappreciationofthenecessityandvalueof ourunion,andsharpenyourresolvetobeanactivemember.If youhavecolleagueswhoarenotmembers,nowisthetimeto encouragethemtojoin.

Enjoy,

AngelaBurroughs

1970s

PriortotheACTgettingitsown teachingserviceACTteachersare employedbytheNSWEducation Departmentandareeligiblefor membershipoftheNewSouthWales TeachersFederation(NSWTF)

1972

1,200teachersinACTschoolsare membersoftheNSWTF.

FederalEducationMinisterMalcolm FraserinvitesDickLee,MickMarch, PeterO’ConnorandBarryPricefrom theNSWTFtoParliamenttowitness thepassingoflegislationthatwillform aCommonwealthTeachingService. Afterwardstheygoforadrink. Atthe pubthemenagreethereisan urgentneedforaseparateteachers’ unionfortheACT. Inexchangefor$1,teachers workingintheACTcanbecome membersoftheCommonwealth TeachersFederation(ACT). Thefederation’sfirstofficesareinthe MLCTower,Woden.Spaceisprovided rent-freebytheCommonwealth Government.

August1972

NSWTFallowsmembersoftheCommonwealth TeachersFederation(ACT)tobeAssociate MembersoftheNSWTFandretainaccess totheNSWTFHealthFund.

November1972

NSWTFagreestomakeanestablishmentgrant totheCommonwealthTeachers’Federation (ACT)of$8foreachfinancialmemberofthe NSWTFwhoisalsoamemberoftheCTFACT.

CATHYROBERTSON

Inthebeginning

DonDunstan,PremierofSouthAustralia,forcedthehandofthe McMahonLiberalgovernmentin1972,byannouncingtheend ofhisadministrationofcommonwealthfundedschoolsinthe NorthernTerritory.ThisledMalcolmFraser,theMinisterfor EducationandScience,tointroduceabilltoestablishthe CommonwealthTeachingService(CTS)inFebruary1972.Thebill proposedthatanationalagencyshouldbeestablishedtoemploy teachersintheACT,theNorthernTerritoryandPapuaNew Guinea.

TheCTSlegislationwasprocedural.Amongstmanyprovisions authorisingactionbyvariousagenciesofthecommonwealthwas onethatreferredindustrialdisputesaboutCTSwagesand conditionsofservicetotheCommonwealthConciliationand ArbitrationCommission.Thiswasimportantbecauseitovercame anyimpedimentstothecreationoftheCommonwealthTeachers Federationasafederallyregisteredunion,whichtookplacemore thantwoyearslater,inJune1974.

Inhisspeechintroducingthebill,Fraserexpressedhis appreciationforhelpfromtheAustralianTeachersFederation (ATF)duringthediscussions.Itmayseemremarkablethata seniormemberofaconservativegovernmentwouldcommenda teachers’unionforitscontributiontohisgovernment’slegislative program.Inthiscase,therewereexceptionalcircumstances influencinghisattitude.

TheACTeducationcommunityhadconvincinglydemonstrated totheMinistertheirdissatisfactionwiththehighlybureaucratic andinflexibleNSWeducationsystemandconvincedhimthat heneededtoestablishanACTeducationsystem,independent ofNSW.TheMinisterunderstoodverywellthatheneededthe cooperationoftheATFtoestablishtheCTS.

Atthistimethe1,200teachersworkinginthe58schoolsinthe ACTweremembersoftheNSWTeachersFederation(NSWTF). TheNSWTFwasahugelysuccessfulunion,with35,000 members,representingonehundredpercentoftheteaching professioninNSWandtheACT.Thefederationwasbyfarthe largestofthesixstateteacherunions.Itsmemberswere committedandwillingtopubliclydemonstratetheirdefence oftheprofessionalstandardsembodiedinNSWTFpolicy.

TheMinisterwasawarethatheneededtopromoteaconvincing casetodemonstratethattheCTSandanindependenteducation systemforACTschoolswouldbeattractiveenoughtogainthe supportofACTteachers.ItwashopedthattheATFandacohort ofCanberrateacherswouldtakeonthetaskofconvincingthe NSWTFtocooperatewiththetransitiontotheCTS.TheMinister endeavouredtopromoteanatmosphereofcooperationandthe prospectofapartnershipbetweenthecommunityandteachers intheACT,atatimewhentheNSWgovernmentwasdetermined todestroytheNSWTeachersFederation.

TheACTeducationcommunity convincinglydemonstratedtotheMinister theirdissatisfactionwiththehighly bureaucraticandinflexibleNSWEducation systemandconvincedhimtoestablishan independentACTEducationsystem. Cartoon:TheACTTeacher1980.

TheCTSAct1972wasassentedtoon17April andreflectsmanyoftheconditionsdemanded bytheATF.Itopenedthedoorforthefirsttime totheregistrationofafederalunion representingteachersandtothemakingofa federalawardforCTSteachers,andsalaries andconditionsofservice.Italsoprovidedan avenuefortheinclusionofunionelected representativesonemployercommittees, suchasthedisciplinaryappealboard.

LaunchingtheCommonwealthTeachers Federation

WhilstCTSlegislationwasbeingdebatedin Parliament,DickLee,MickMarch,BarryPrice andPeterO’Connor,allmembersofthe NSWTFSecondaryTeachersAssociation, begantosinkthefoundationstoestablisha newteachers’union.Theystyledthemselves asthe‘ShipCommittee’becausetheywere positioningthemselvestobethearchitects ofanewteacherunion,theCommonwealth TeachersFederation(CTF),ashipthatwould conveyteacherschoosingtoleavetheNSW educationdepartmentsafelytotheACT’snew commonwealth-runeducationsystem, protectingtheirprofessionalandindustrial interests.

The‘ShipCommittee’wascommittedto implementingaflexibleandparticipatory schoolsystem,servingtheACTcommunity. IncontrasttotheNSWsystem,thesystem wouldsupportthecollectiveandindividual participationofteachersinadecentralised schoolsystem.

Twoteachers,PeterO’ConnorandChrisBerry, producedapolicypaperandadraft constitutionforanewindustrialand professionalorganisationforCTSteachers. Thestructuretheyproposedincludedacentral governingbodyofteachermembersandthree associationsforpreschool,primaryand secondarymemberswithconsiderable autonomy.Theframeworkwasendorsedover severallargegatheringsofteachersatthe Canberraworkers’clubandCampbellhigh schoolduring1972.Atasubsequentmeeting, teachersvotedtoseekagrantfromthe NSWTFtofundtheestablishmentofanACT teachers’union.InAugust1972,theCTFwas

formallyconstituted.Thestatusofthenew unionwasproblematicduetotheuncertainty oftheCommonwealthConciliationand ArbitrationAct’sregistrationprocessfor authorisingnewemployeeorganisations. Themotionpresentedtothemeetingwas:

Pending(a)theregistrationofthe FederationundertheCommonwealth ConciliationandArbitrationAct(19041970)and(b)thedeclarationoftheresults ofthefirstelectionsheldaftersuch registrationunderRules33and43ofthe Constitution,themembersholdingoffice withintheFederationasat23rdAugust 1972shallbedeemedtohavebeenvalidly electedandallactsdoneandbusiness transactedshallbedeemedtobevalid.

Themotionwascarriedunanimouslybyfive womenandelevenmen.Therewerenowomen secondarymemberspresent.

DickLeeandIanMcPhee(NSWTFPrimary TeachersAssociation)werenominatedasthe PresidentandDeputyPresident.Membership oftheACTCTFwasgrantedtoeligible membersforafeeofonedollar.Meanwhile, teacherscontinuedtheirmembershipofthe NSWTF.

ManyteacherswerereluctanttojointheCTF in1973whilsttheiremployerremainedthe NSWeducationdepartment,andsothey retainedtheirmembershipoftheNSWTF.This changedoncetheCTSbecametheemployer inJanuary1974andtheNSWTFagreedto introduceanassociatemembership arrangementtoallowaccessbyCTFmembers totheNSWTFhealthfund,theteachers’social clubandotherbenefits.

Registrationasafederalindustrial organisation

Twenty-sevenmonthslater,on10thJune1974, guidedbytheexpertassistancefromtwolegal counsels,andfollowingamajorreviewofthe federalindustriallegislationbytheWhitlam Laborgovernment,theACTTFwasregistered asafederalindustrialorganisationunderthe ConciliationandArbitration(Organisations)Act 1974.1

Themodelrulesforthenewunionwerecopied fromtheNSWTF’sconstitutionandadaptedto suittheACTenvironment.Undertherules,the supremegoverningbodywastheannual conference,thecouncilwasthegoverning bodybetweenconferencesandbetween councilmeetingstheexecutivewasthe governingbody.Memberswereallocated tooneofthethreeassociations:secondary, primaryandpreschool.Therulesalsoretained someproblematicissues:provisionfora teachers’socialclubasabenefitformembers andasetofspecialconditionsfavouring returnedsoldiers.

MeanwhileTAFEteacherswerenotyetcovered bytheneworganisation.Theycontinuedtobe employedbytheNSWdepartmentof educationandremainedmembersofthe NSWTF.

Afterthe1975GilmourInquiry’s recommendationswereaccepted,aseparate TAFEauthoritywasestablished,andTAFE teacherstransferredtotheCTSin1977. Similarly,teachersattheCanberraSchoolof ArtandtheCanberraSchoolofMusicwere broughtintotheCTSuntiltheywereabsorbed intotheANUinthe1980s.

Constitutionalamendmentsin1976and1977 dispensedwiththeassociationsandvarious proposalsforregionalassociationswere consideredandrejected.Aspecialconference decidedthatthereshouldbedirect representationofprimaryandsecondary schoolbranchesaccordingtotheirsizeat councilandannualconference.Inaddition, provisionwasmadeforpreschooland technicalteacherstohavesimilardirect access.Theexecutivewouldbeelected separatelybyallmembersandnotbythe councilaswasthecaseinNSWTF.

1 http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/num_act/1974/

26January1972

FourIndigenousmensetupabeach umbrellaonthelawnsopposite ParliamentHouseinCanberra.

Describingtheumbrellaasthe Aboriginalembassy,themenprotest theMcMahongovernment’sapproach toIndigenouslandrights.

Theembassyoperatesinanumberof locationsandtakesmanyformsbeforeits permanentestablishmentonthosesame lawnsin1992.

Thegoalsofprotestershavechangedover timeandnowincludeIndigenous sovereigntyandself-determination.

Photos

Above:1972thefirstAboriginalembassyhttps:// www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/aboriginaltent-embassy

Right:©ChrisRonalds1974.Women’sElectoralLobby Protestingcutstothepromisedchild-carebudget, Canberra.

1973

CommonwealthTeachingService (CTS)isestablished.ACTschools nowhaveanindependenteducation systemoverseenbytheACTSchools Authority.Teacherscanchoose whethertoremainintheNSW teachingserviceorjointheCTS. TAFEteacherscontinuetobe employedbyNSWdepartment ofeducation.

MembershipoftheCTFACT issetataflatrateof$32p.a. Membersmustpayforanassociate membershipofNSWTFforcontinued accesstotheteachers’healthfund.

Maternityleaveof12weeks introducedforgovernment employees.

PAMRICHARDS

Passionateconvictions

Mysister,RosemaryRichards,arrivedintheACTin1974and soonpersuadedmehowmuchmoresatisfyingitwouldbeto teachintheACTthaninSydney.

Idulyarrivedin1976,anticipatingcontinuingtoteachsecondary Englishasasecondlanguage(ESL).Almostimmediatelythatwas alteredtosettingupanewprimaryschoollibrary,astheprincipal atKaleenprimaryschoolhadrequestedaprofessionallyqualified librarian.Thiswastheschoolwithnopupilsinitscatchmentarea. PupilswerebussedinfromneighbouringGiralang,astheschool therewasstillbeingbuilt.TheNationalCapitalDevelopment Commission(nowtheNationalCapitalAuthority)hadhadafault initsplanningprocesses!

Thestafffeltlikepioneersinthedesert,nophonelinewas connectedandsupplieswereshort.Theprincipalhadtotake hiscaralongtheonedirtroadoutofthesuburb,ontotheBarton Highway,andaroundtotheschoolsofficeintheMacarthur buildingtogetboxesoftissuesandtoiletpaper.

Ofcoursetherewasamaleprincipalanddeputyprincipal,and almostallteachingstaffwerewomen.Iwashorrifiedwhenthe principal’ssecretaryraisedhereyebrowsonhearingIhada7year oldson,andtoldmeI’dbeunabletotakeleaveifhecaughtan infectiousdisease,ashewould.(Fortunately,hedidn’t.)

Themuchmorefriendly,supportivewomenImetatmonthly Saturdaymeetingsoftheteachersunionwereasociallifeline, andmademefeelmuchmoreconfidentlivinginanewcity,and workinginadifferentway.Iabsolutelylookedforwardtothose meetingstogaininsightintotheoperationsoftheschoolsand thepersonalitiesintheCanberrasystem.

Teacherlibrarianswerealsoverysupportiveandinformativeto anewschoollibrarian.

Iwasabletoeasilydiscusstheimportanceoftryingtochoose non-genderedreadingandinformationmaterial,andfindagroup ofwomenwhothoughtinasimilarway.

BecausetheunionandtheSchoolsAuthoritychosetoestablish apositionto‘eliminatesexisminschools’otherteacherlibrarians wereawarethiswasan‘issueoftheday’.Unionmeetingsona SaturdaymorningatWestongavemeinsightintohowavery goodeducationsystemhadvisionstobecomeanevenbetter one.

Thepassionateconvictionsofstrongleaderswhoweremovingin parallelwithemergingsocialequityissuessuchashumanrights, lawsagainstdiscriminationofwomen,Aboriginalpeople,people ofadifferentrace,thosewithadisability,andsoon,filledmost teacherswithhope(althoughsomehadconcerns).

AsateacherwhoactedforashorttimeintheEliminationof Sexismrole,andlaterintheEqualEmploymentrole,Iverymuch valuedknowingthatIhadthesupportofourunion.

Theopportunitytospeak atmonthlyunion meetingsprovided confidencethatIcould visitschoolsthatwere seekingapresentationon eliminationofsexismand, later,EqualEmployment Opportunityandpresent wthconvictiontofellow teachers.More pertinently, Icouldanswertheir questionswithassurance, perhapschangingafew opinions.

Theopportunitytospeakatmonthlyunionmeetingsprovided confidencethatIcouldvisitschoolsthatwereseekinga presentationoneliminationofsexismand,later,Equal EmploymentOpportunityandpresentwthconvictiontofellow teachers.Morepertinently,Icouldanswertheirquestionswith assurance,perhapschangingafewopinions.

Iverymuchvaluedthechallengesoftheseroles,andfinding thatIcouldprovideinformationtofellowteacherswhichactively assistedthemtobemoreconfidentinapplyingforandobtaining jobs,orassistingthemtonegotiateinausefulway.

Thewomenineducationgroupgrewfrombeingaunionconcept tobeingaprofessionalandsociallink,resultinginvaluable interchangesbothintrainingforumsandsocialmeetings.

DuringthisearlyperiodofmytimeintheACT,Iwasinvolvedlike allotherteachers,inanindustrialcampaignrelatingtotheability tousealternativeformsofprotesttostriking.Thiswasa calculatedunionstrategytotrytoobtainprogressinindustrial conditionswithoutclosingdownaschoolsystem.

ItcoincidedwiththeFrasergovernmentlegislationthatcaused workerswhotookminorindustrialactiontobestooddown. Ihaven’tfeltsuchaunioncamaraderiebeforeorsince!

Thegovernmentintentionwastopickoffworkers,andfrighten othersintoceasingminoraction.Ithadquitetheoppositeeffect onteachers.Irecallbeingataverylargemassmeeting,where teachersonChristmasIsland,whowerenotaffected,sent messagessayingtheywishedtobeincluded.Therewerepeople onsickleaveandpeopleonoverseasholidayswhosent messagesthattheyhadnotifiedtheirindustrialofficerthatthey werenottobepaidforthatday.Needlesstosaythegovernment capitulatedreasonablyquicklyandwithdrewitsCommonwealth EmployeesEmploymentProvisions(CEEP)legislation,butI alwaysregrettednothavingobtainedthewonderfulT-Shirtwith aquackingducksaying‘I’vebeenCEEPED’.

Wehavebeenfortunatetoalwayshaveverystrongleadership inourunion,andperhapsthereisanadvantageinbeing asmallunion.Issuesandleadersareunusuallyclose.Ithink inthatearlyperiodformanyteachers,professionalism/union activism/women’sissues/humanrightswereinextricably entwined.

1974

PopulationoftheACT183,000.

Midtolate1970s

CommonwealthTeachingServicescholarships areavailable,attractingsignificantnumbers ofstudentsintoteachingcourses.

Photo:©JohnMcKinnon1975.

BRONWYNSTEVENS

Principals’positionswerealmost exclusivelyheldbymenandimplicitbias andinformalprocedurescontinuedto hamperwomen’sprogress.Mostobvious wasthepracticeofappointingmento actinmoreseniorpositions,depriving womenofleadershipexperienceand disadvantagingwomen’scareer progression.

Wearingred

IbeganteachingincountryNSWin1972. Althoughthemarriagebarhadbeenremoved, marriedwomenwerestillsubjecttopractices thatlimitedtheircareerprospects.Married womenwerediscouragedfromapplyingfor permanentpositionsonthreatofbeingposted anywhereinNSW.Superannuationwaslimited andpromotionprospectsundermined.The impactofthesediscriminatorypracticeswas embeddedintothenewACTsystem.

WhentheACTsystemformallycommencedin January1974itretainedNSWstaff,butanew cohortofwellcredentialedstaffwasrecruited. Thesystemdidawaywithsomeofthe regressivepractices.Marriedwomenwere appointedtopermanentpositionsbutthe implicitbiasinfavourofmalesinleadership positionslingeredandwasillustratedinmany ways.

Principals’positionswerealmostexclusively heldbymenandimplicitbiasandinformal procedurescontinuedtohamperwomen’s progress.Mostobviouswasthepracticeof appointingmentoactinmoreseniorpositions, deprivingwomenofleadershipexperienceand disadvantagingwomen’scareerprogression. ThiswassomethingIobservedduringmyfirst appointmentintheACTwhenaconscientious andexperiencedwomanwaspassedoverfor ayoungermale,‘agoodbloke’butnotone knownforexcessivedevotiontoduty.

Sadly,theseattitudeswerealsostillapparent intheACTTeachersFederationwhere leadershippositionsweremaledominatedand womenhaddifficultygettingissuesofconcern tothemontheagenda.Womengradually increasedtheirnumbersoncouncilandbegan tocaucusandexplorewaystogettheissues concerningwomenmembersontotheagenda. CouncilmeetingswereheldoneSaturday morningamonth.

Photo:©AnneRoberts,courtesyofMitchellLibrary andSearchFoundation,suppliedbyBrazenHussies. Seeus,hearus:Womenmarchfortheirrightsin SydneyonInternationalWomen'sDay1975. https://lighthouse.mq.edu.au/article/november-2020/ why-we-need-more-brazen-hussies-in-australia-today

Therewasusuallyafullagendaofindustrial issuesandoccasionallyimportantinternational issues,butthemeetingswerealsotakenup withhighlyperipheralissuesparticularlyfrom asmallbuttightlyorganisedgroupknownas ‘TheTrots’whoknewhowtocatchthechair’s attentionandgotmotionson‘theneedto commenceauniversalstriketobringdownthe

government’intodebatemuchtothe exasperationofmostmembers.

Toparticipateeffectivelyoncouncilwomen delegateshadtolearntoovercomeyearsof conditioningtobepolite.Wewereadvised toleaptoourfeetquicklytohaveachance ofbeingrecognisedbythechair.Wearingred wasalsoadvised.

Itbecameclearthatitwasessentialto understandthemeetingrulesincluding‘that themotionbeput’ifweweretogetissuesof concerntoourschoolstaffandspecificissues relatingtowomenmembersheard.Issueslike accesstoactinmoreseniorpositions,andthe applicationofmaternityleaveprovisions.

OneissuethatIparticipatedinwastheright forteacherstoreturntotheirappointedschool aftermaternityleave.Afterteachershadgained therighttoreturntotheirappointedschool afterayear’sleavewithoutpayfortravelor studypurposes,aproposaltoextendthisto returnfrommaternityleavewasmetwithsome resistance.

Whilelobbying,Iwasamazedtohearfromone principalarangeofallegationsthatwereas outmodedastheywereuntrue:womenwould beworryingabouttheirchildrennotfocusing ontheirjobs,wouldalwaysbetakingsickleave and,perhapsstrangestofall,particular mentionwasmadeoftheinabilityto concentratewhileonplaygroundduty.

Turningtoaseniorstaffmemberwhowasalso aseniorunionrepresentativeforsupport providednohelp.Itbecameclearthatmore specificformalrecognitionoftherightsand interestsofwomenteachersintheACT TeachersFederationwasrequirediftheirissues weretobeputforcefullytotheACTSchools Authority.

Itispleasingtohearaccountsfromcurrent womenmembersthatindicatetheunion recognisesissuesthatspecificallyaffect womenandadvocatesstronglyontheirbehalf.

Iwasamazedtohearfromoneprincipala rangeofallegationsthatwereasoutmoded astheywereuntrue:womenwouldbe worryingabouttheirchildrennotfocusing ontheirjobs,wouldalwaysbetakingsick leaveand,perhapsstrangestofall, particularmentionwasmadeoftheinability toconcentratewhileonplaygroundduty.

IANFOSTER

Wasitanexciting environment?YES.

Wasaneffective educationsystemsoon inplace?YES.

Wasitexhausting formany?YES.

Youngidealists

Myunionmembershipnumber740010indicatesIwasthe10th memberofournewlyformedunion.

InearlyJanuary,50yearsago,IdroveintoCanberrafromMildura andreportedtotheMLCTowerinWodenwhich,atthatpoint,on justacoupleoffloorsaccommodatedouremployer(the CommonwealthTeachingService),ourdeployment(theACT SchoolsAuthority)andourunion,theACTbranchofthe CommonwealthTeachersFederation.

Inmid-January1974,thestaffofallthreewasonlyafewdozen. Iwasinformedthatmyinitialplacementhadbeenchangedto CampbellhighschoolandIbeganthechallengeoffinding housing.Allgovernmenthostelsseemedfullbutfortunately, theCTShadtakenroomsatBurgmanncollege(ANU),which wasadelight.

SchoolcommencedundertheACTSchoolsAuthorityafewdays laterinthesecondfullyearofthenewWhitlamLaborfederal government,inaschoolsystemthathadbeendemandedand largelydesignedbyparentsandteachers.Thisactivismandthe manyinitiativeswereguidedandgenerallyoverseenbyahandful ofbureaucrats,largelyfromtheCommonwealthPublicService, inasystemthatlackedmanyofthe‘normal’linesof accountabilityanddirection.

ThisperiodwasyearspriortoACTself-governmentin1988.The legislativeframeworkwithinwhichwewereactingwasuncertain andchangeddaybydayintheearlyyearstomeetemerging needsandrespondtosuddensituations.Trustandmutualrespect playedlargerolesinkeepingthewheelsturningsmoothly.

Between30-50%ofteacherswerenewtotheACTandbrought withthemarangeofattitudesandcustoms,manyofwhichthe NSWmajorityfoundhardtoacceptandrespect.Wesetoutto pioneernewstylesofleadershipandsupervisionincorporating SchoolBoardsthatincludedstudents,teachers,parentsand administrators(aconceptonlyfamiliartoVictorians).Fromthe verybeginningwesetouttoidentifyandremoveelements ofdiscriminationandsexismfromeducation.

Theuncertaintiesrattledmanywhosepastpowerwasdependent onrules,lawsandordinancesthathadnotbeenwritteninthe ACT.Skeptically,manyoldhandswarnedofimpendingdoom, whileweyoungidealistsworkedhardtoprovethemwrong.

Wasitanexcitingenvironment?YES. Wasaneffectiveeducationsystemsooninplace?YES. Wasitexhaustingformany?YES.

Justthreeyearslater,thesecondarysectorwassplitintohigh schoolsandcolleges,andpreschoolsmergedwithprimary pchools,althoughthislastchangewasnotpopularatthetime.

Manynewpatternsweresetinthefirst20 years,buthasmuchchangedinACTpublic educationsince?Hasthepaceofchange anddesireforinnovationchanged?

Intheearlyyears,manyideaswerenew,brave andunexpected.Manyideasfacedtheharsh criticismofpowerfuldoubtersandwere evaluated,overandover,withinaninchoftheir lives.Itisatestamenttomanycourageous leadersandhard-workingteachersinthose bravedecadesthatmostofthebest innovationsstandlittle-altered50yearslater. SeveralAustralianstatesstillstruggleto achievechangesweachievedinthoseearly years.

Sadly,manyofthekeyoperativesfromthe 1970sarenolongerwithusandnotenough wasdoneatthetime,orsince,tohonourtheir contributions.TheunionrepresentingACT teacherswasatthecentreofallthesechanges andprovidedthepersonneltopioneer,lead, administerandimplementanastonishingrange ofpolicies,proceduresandclasses.

Iknowofveryfewteachers(andstudents)who passedthroughthoseearlyyearswhoarenot deeplyproudofwhatweachievedandwhat weshowedwaspossibletoothers.

Inlateryears,thenumberofbureaucrats (sometimesformerteachers)thatwerefelt tobeneededtooverseeACTschoolinggrew enormously,thoughthenumberofclassroom teachershasstruggledtokeepupwithsteadily growingstudentnumbers.

Thisteachershortagecrisisisplacinghardwonteachingconditions,teacherwelfareand teachersqualityoflifeundergreatstrain.

Fiftyyearsago,teachersledthefightfor studentrightstoabettereducation.Whowill emergetoleadandjointhestruggleforteacher rightsinthisnewindustrialandprofessional battlefield?

Photo:©PaulDurand1979.AerialviewNationalArea. SourceNationalCapitalDevelopmentCommission.

1974

AllACTpublicschoolsareoperated throughtheCommonwealthTeaching Service(CTS).

DespiteexpectationsofCTSoffering highersalaries,ACTteachers commenceonlowersalariesthanNSW teachers.

10June1974

ACTTeachersFederationregistered. ACTteachersnowofficiallyhave theirownunion.

Withformalstatusasanindustrial organisationtheACTTFlodgesa disputeandachievessalaryincreases. Automaticquarterlywage adjustmentscontinueuntil1979, whentheFrasergovernment introducesawagesfreeze.

ALEXIABANNIKOFF

Withgratitude

IwasanEnglish,historyanddramateacherintheACTsystem from1968until1982.DuringthattimeIwasanactivemember oftheunion.

AlthoughIneverheldexecutivepositions,Iwasacouncilmember representingtheCoplandcollegeandHawkercollegebranches.

Fromthebeginningofmyteachingcareer,membershipofthe unionwassignificant.IhadjoinedassoonasIgraduatedasa teachersinceIcamefromabackgroundwhereitwastakenfor grantedthatonejoinedtheunioncoveringone’semployment. Withoutunionmembership,onehadnoprotectionagainst randomadverseactionbyemployersandonehadafirm obligationtoparticipateinthecontinuedcollectivefightfor conditionsandpay.

Oneoftheongoingissuesfortheuniongenerallyatthetime, Iremember,wastheproblemofbeinganemployeeandmember ofanindustrialunionversusmembershipofaprofession.There wereavarietyofteacherfocusedprofessionalassociationsactive atthetimeintheACT.IwasamemberoftheEnglishTeachers Association,forexample,buttheunionacteddefactoasthe overarchingprofessionalrepresentativebody.Thiswasnot necessarilyinconflictwithitsindustrialrolebutitwasnotthe same.Occasionallyitcausedindividualmemberssomeangst, particularlythosewhofeltthatstrikeactionadverselyaffected studentsandwasthereforeunprofessional.

Afewwomentookto knittingatcouncil meetings.Manyofthe malecouncilmembers thoughtknittingwasnot seriousandshouldnotbe allowed.

Irememberonemeeting whenamuchloved colleaguecametothe laststitchonherjumper andstoodupexclaiming loudly,“Ifinished!” Uproar.

Isupposetheknittingdid haveacertainhintofthe guillotineaboutit.

Iremembermanyinteresting,passionatedebatesandstimulating Saturdaymorningsontheunioncouncil.Muchofmytimewas engagedinthevariousconflictswithourmalecolleaguesand friendsoverthetrueroleofaunionwhichhadsuchahighfemale membership:permanentparttimework,apositiononabortion, servicehistoriesbrokenbybearingchildren.

Afewwomentooktoknittingatcouncilmeetings–asserting femaleidentity.Manyofthemalecouncilmembersthought knittingwasnotseriousandshouldnotbeallowed.Iremember onemeetingwhenamuchlovedcolleaguecametothelaststitch onherjumperandstoodupexclaimingloudly,“Ifinished!” Uproar.Isupposetheknittingdidhaveacertainhintofthe guillotineaboutit.

Twoeventsstandoutinmymemoryofthattime.

Iwasanelectedunionmemberofthepanelwhichselected CherylO’ConnorasprincipalofLakeGinninderracollege.Iwas electedtothesystemselectionpanelstwoyearsinarow.

Inthefirstyear,theunionnominatedme,butIwasrejectedbythe SchoolsAuthority.Ihadincludedinmywrittenshortbiographya commitmenttotheimplementationoftheSchoolsAuthorityEqual EmploymentOpportunitypolicy.Thatwasnotthepurposeofthe selectionpanels,theunionwastold!ThenextyearIwas acceptedevenwiththesamebiographicalstatement.

TheselectionofCherylO’Connorasthe recommendedcandidateforprincipalofLake Ginninderracollegecausedanearthquake thoughtheschoolsystem,asweonthepanel hadanticipated,andwasareasonwhyso manyrefereeswerecontacted.Ofcourse,the knock-oneffectscameatapersonalcostto CherylbutIthinksuccessfullybrokethrough theongoingacceptanceofwhitemenasthe onlysuitableprincipalsofsecondarycolleges. Proofofhowrapidlyayounginnovativesystem couldatrophyifonedidnotengagein continuousrenewal.

Thetwounionnominatedmembersofthe selectionpanelsandthelaterpermanentpeer assessmentunitsubsequentlyreceivedmany invitationsfromschoolsandgroupsofwomen teacherstotalkabouttheprocessofapplying forpromotion.Iseethisaspartofamajor changeinthewaywomenteachersthought abouttheirworkinglivesandcareers.

Secondisamorepersonalmemory.The AustralianTeachersUnionhadasmall internationalcommitteewhichdependedon theinterestofonlyafewmembersbutwhich Ithinkwasimportantaspartoftheunion’s viewofitswiderroleinsociety.

ThroughtheACTbranch’sconnections, IhostedagroupofSouthAfricanunionists duringthecampaignagainstApartheid. ItravelledtoCentralJavaandundertook aleadershipworkshopforwomenteachers, publichealthworkersandthelikeatlocal andvillagelevel.

LaterIrespondedtoanadvertisementthrough theunionforteacherstogotoChinatotrain Englishlanguageteachers,andtogivegroups ofmidlifeprofessionalsthelanguageskillsthey neededtoworkwithoverseasexpertsintheir fields.

Chinawasatthetimegoingthroughaperiod ofopeningupfollowingtheendofthecultural revolution.Theauthoritieswantedexperts,but ‘red’experts,achangefrom‘red’beingthe solequalificationrequired.

TheAustralianTeachersUnionwas approachedforhelpratherthanamore conventionalapproachbeingmadethrough theDepartmentofforeignaffairsorAustralia’s officialaidprograms.TheAustralianembassy inBeijingdid,though,takeanactiveinterest inthedeploymentofthreeAustralianteachers toateachertrainingcollegeinXi’anincentral China.

Thisdeploymentwasaturningpointinmylifearareopportunityavailableonlythroughthe union.Chinawastomearemoteandexotic placeatthetime.Touristtripswerebecoming morepopular,butwereorganisedthrough variouspoliticalandprofessionalassociations andpeoplewereshepherdedthroughstandard showcaseitineraries.Toliveandworkthere, alongsideChinesecolleagues,andawayfrom thelargecoastalcitiesofBeijing,Shanghaiand Guangzhou,wastrulyamazing.

SubsequentlybuildingonthisexperienceIwas abletopursueacareerininternational education,joiningtheAustralianpublicservice andundertakingpostingstoChinaand Malaysia.LaterIwentontoleadthe internationalofficesofseveralAustralianand NewZealanduniversities.Theearlyexperience withtheunionandinChinagotmestartedon thispath.Ilookbackwithgratitudeonthe opportunity.

1976

ACTTFmembershipfeechanges to0.6%ofthesalaryofteachers atthetopincrementofBand1.

Early1970s–early1980s Doubledigitinflationexperiencedin mostyears,peakingatmorethan15% in1974.

1977

ACTTFEliminationofSexism sub-committeeestablished.

TAFEteachersaretransferredto CommonwealthTeachingService(CTS).

1978

PurposebuiltACTTFbuildingopensin Weston.Ithasspaceforcouncilmeetings anditsownlicensedclub.

1980

ACTTeachersUnionClub.11amSunday 29June,Chicken&Champersmorning. $5perhead.

1980

5.5%salaryincreaseawardedbyAustralian ConciliationandArbitrationCommission.

1981

NSWTFremovesassociatemembershipfee forACTTFmembersandallowsmembersto retainaccesstoNSWTeachersHealthfund.

1982

TheACTTFestablishesanAboriginal EducationCommittee.

ThefirstFederalAboriginalEducation Officerisappointed.

1980s

1980-1984

CathyRobertsonisthefirstwoman electedtosenioroffice.Sheservesas:

DeputyPresident1980-1981

Secretary1982

President1983-1984

1982

CEEP(CommonwealthEmployees (EmploymentProvisions)Act1977) legislationisusedagainstACTteachers. Teacherstakingindustrialaction arethreatenedwithdismissal.

Photo:CathyRobertson.TheACTTeacher1982.

CATHYROBERTSON

Atthetime,ACT teacherswere Commonwealthpublic servants,andassuch weresubjectedtoalaw whichallowedthe federalgovernmentto standdown-without pay-publicservants whoengagedin industrialaction:the dreaded Commonwealth Employees (Employment Provisions)Act,known asthe‘CEEPAct’.

Threatofdismissal

InMarch1982ourmembersfoughtabattlewithcourageand solidaritythatwoulddefineourunion’svaluesfordecadesto come.WhatbeganasasimplepayclaimbyACTteachers escalatedintoashowdownthatwouldtestthemettleof2,800 educatorsandforeverchangethelandscapeofindustrialrelations inAustralia.

Thesparkthatignitedthispowderkegwasa‘0%increase’offer fromtheFrasergovernmentaftermonthsofstallednegotiations. Feelingfrustratedandundervalued,theACTTeachersFederation, ledbypresidentKeithLawlerandsecretaryCathyRobertson, decidedtoimplementrollingstrikes.Onthethirddayofthis campaign,400teachersinBelconnenstoppedworkfortwo hours.

Atthetime,ACTteacherswerecommonwealthpublicservants, andassuchweresubjectedtoalawwhichallowedthefederal governmenttostanddown-withoutpay-publicservantswho engagedinindustrialaction:thedreadedCommonwealth Employees(EmploymentProvisions)Act,colloquiallyknown asthe‘CEEPAct’.

OnThursday11March,thegovernmentdroppeditshammer. InvokingtheCEEP,those400Belconnenteachersfound themselvesstooddownandlockedoutoftheirschools.The messagewasclear:dissentwouldnotbetolerated.

Butifthegovernmentthoughtthisshowofforcewouldcowthe teachersintosubmission,theyhadseverelyunderestimatedthe powerofsolidarity.Thenextday,inaremarkabledisplayofunity, teachersfromacrosstheACTgatheredattheAISarena.The atmospherewaselectric,amixofanger,determinationandfear. AstheyvotedoverwhelminglytojointheirBelconnencolleagues instrikeaction,manywonderedsilentlyabouttheconsequences. Mortgages,bills,jobsecurity-allhunginthebalance.Yetinthat moment,standingshouldertoshoulder,theychosetofight.

Thegovernment’sresponsewasswiftandharsh.Bylunchtime, 2,800teachersfoundthemselveslockedoutoftheirschools,their livelihoodssuspendedindefinitely.Canberra’s165government schoolsgroundtoahalt,leavingparentsscramblingandstudents inlimbo.

Asthecrisisdeepened,theunionfacedawarontwofronts.Not onlyweretheirmemberswithoutpay,butthegovernmenthad alsocancelledtheautomaticpayrolldeductionofuniondues, acalculatedmovetostarvethefederationoffunds.Inthefaceof thisonslaught,somethingremarkablehappened.Teachersbegan payingtheirduesinadvance–incash,bycheque,through alternativeschemes.EventheircolleaguesonChristmasIsland, thousandsofmilesaway,donatedwagesinsupport.

Thegovernmenttriedtodivideandconquer,offering reinstatementtoanyteacherwillingtocrossthepicketlineand

TheCEEPCrisisof1982 standsasatestamentto thepowerofunion solidarity.Itremindsus thatwhenworkersstand united,eveninthefaceof overwhelmingodds,they canachievejustice.

FortheACTTeachers Federation,itwasa baptismoffirethatforged astronger,moreresilient union–onethat continuestofightforthe rightsanddignityof educatorstothisday.

disassociatefromtheunionaction.Butinstaffroomsacross Canberra,adifferentconversationwastakingplace.Asone principalputit,“Whenthisisallover,Idon'twanttocomeback tofindaschoolthat'sbitterlydividedbetweenthosewhodid anddidnottakeactioninsupportoftheircolleagues.”

Theturningpointcameon16March,whenJusticeJudithCohen oftheConciliationandArbitrationCommissionintervened.Cathy Robertsonwassummonedtoappearatacompulsoryconference torepresenttheunion’smembers.Robertsonwasthefirstwoman toappearbeforetheCommission.

Inalandmarkdecision,Cohenawardedtheteachersasubstantial interimpayincrease,effectivelyendingthestandoff.

Asteachersreturnedtotheirclassroomson17March,theywere partofachangedunion.Theyhadanewfoundsenseoftheirown powerandadeepappreciationforthestrengthofcollective action.TheCEEPAct,oncealoomingthreat,wasneverused againandwasrepealedthefollowingyear.

Thethenchairofthepublicserviceboard,WilliamCole,angry athavinglostthefight,wroteabriefingtothegovernmentafter thedispute.Init,hearguedthat,“thelessonlearnedfromthis campaignisthatindustrialactionspays.Thewaytogetwage justiceistostrike.”WhileColemeantthisasacriticism,many unionmembersmayenthusiasticallyagreewiththisassessment.

TheCEEPCrisisof1982standsasatestamenttothepower ofunionsolidarity.Itremindsusthatwhenworkersstandunited, eveninthefaceofoverwhelmingodds,theycanachievejustice. FortheACTTeachersFederation,itwasabaptismoffirethat forgedastronger,moreresilientunion-onethatcontinuestofight fortherightsanddignityofeducatorstothisday.

1984

AustralianConciliationand ArbitrationCommission increasesteachers’payby4.1%.

Clippings,cartoons,schooluniformillustration:TheACTTeacher1980,1983,1984.Sevendwarvescartoon,2001.

ANGELABURROUGHS

1983-1985

JoanCorbettbecomessecond womanelectedtosenioroffice intheunion,servingas Secretary1983-1985.

1984

TheSexDiscriminationAct becomesLaw.TheActseeks toeliminatediscrimination againstpersonsonthe groundsofsex,maritalstatus, pregnancy,potential pregnancy.

1985

Stillnofemaleprincipals inthesecondarysector.

Empoweringwomen

InApril2024Iwasdelightedtohostagathering ofwomenwhowereactivelyinvolvedinourunion initsearlyyears.Thegatheringwasinstigatedby CathyRobertson,thefirstwomanelectedtosenior office.Itdrewacrowdoffeistywomenwithstories totell.

Theirstories(includedinthefollowingpages)reveal extraordinarydetermination,anabilitytoinnovate, acommitmenttolearninghowtomaketheunionand itssystemsworkforthem.

Inaunionwhosedelegatesandleadershipweredominated bymen,thesewomenfullyrecognisedno-onewasgoing tohandthemwhattheywantedandneeded;theyhadto organiseanddoitforthemselves-anddoittheydid.

TheyenrolledincoursesrunbytheTradeUnionTraining Authority,learnedhowtoeffectivelyusestandingorders, andgalvanisedsupportforpressingissuesforwomen,such asaddressingsexismineducation.Atthesametime,these womencampaignedtogetwomenelectedas representativesoncouncilandtoseniorofficeintheunion.

AsIhavebeenreflectingon50yearsofourunion,looking backthroughtheunion’sjournals,bulletinsandnewsletters, itisgratifyingtoseegenuineandlastinggains,particularly concerningwomen:marriedwomenareallowedtoworkin thepublicservice,canworkfull-timeandenjoypayparity; promotionisbasedonmeritandnotseniority;womenare notexpectedtobesolelyresponsibleforfamilies;and overtlysexistcurriculummaterialsareathingofthepast.

WhileIwaslisteningtothewomen’sstories,marvellingat theirsheertenacity,Iwasstruckbytheneedforcontinuing vigilancearoundtheissuestheyconfrontedandwe continuetofacetodayinsociety-sexism,forone.Ialso experiencedawaveofimmensegratitudefortheground thesewomen,andothers,hadtroddenbeforememaking itpossibleformetobepresidentofouruniontoday.

TrinaCleary,acurrentmemberofourbranchexecutive, waspresentthatevening.Shehasthistosay:

“Thestoriesfromourelderwomenunionistsofbattling theirwaythroughthepatriarchywithintheunionwere intriguingandinspiring,especiallythemethodsthey developedforsupportingandtrainingeachotherto participateinpoliticalprocesses.Theyremindedmeto speakuploudlyandcontinuetoensurewomen’svoices areembeddedinourunion’sculture.”

Cartoon:TheACTTeacher1986.

Photo:©CanberraTimes.JoanCorbett1983.

1986

Apilotstudyintostresslevels affectingteachersinACT governmentschoolsisconducted. Resultsofthesurveyindicate thereisasufficientneedforthe Federationtoconductamore comprehensivesurveyintothe causesofteacherstressinACT governmentschools.

1987

Anationalbody,theAustralian TeachersUnionisregistered, nowtheAustralianEducation Union.

1987

RosemaryRichardsbecomesfourth womanelectedtosenioroffice,as Secretary (replacingHelgaMcPhiewho holdsthepositionMay-December1986).

Rosemaryservesas: Secretary1987 President1988-1995

Photo:RosemaryRichards.TheACTTeacher1987.

ROSEMARYRICHARDS 1950-2006

Alastingtestamentto theplaceRosemary holdsinthemindsand heartsofsomanyis thatsinceherdeath therehavebeentwo awardsmadeinher name.Nationally,the AEURosemary RichardsScholarship continuesRosemary’s legacybybuildingthe capacityofwomenas activistsandleaders.At thelocallevel,Lake Ginninderracollege, whereRosemaryserved asprincipal,presentsan awardinherhonourthat recognisesstudents whohaveovercome challengestoexceed boththeirownand others’expectations.

Rosemarywasagreatfriend,aloyalcampaignerforpublic educationandapersonwhosecontributiontoboththeunion andpubliceducationwilllastlongpastherlife.

AEUACTbranchannualreport2006.

RosemaryservedasBranchPresidentfrom1988to1995and priortothatasSecretaryin1987.

Writingherfinal‘FromthePresident’columninTheACTTeacher, September1995,Rosemaryreflectsonhertimeintheunion. AlthoughRosemary’svoicecomestousfromthirtyyearsago, theissuessheidentifiesarestillverymuchwithusandherrallying callisasrelevantasever.

Inherownwords

“ReflectingonmytimeasaSeniorOfficerintheUnionIfeel immenselyhonouredtohaverepresentedyouinsomany waysovertheyears. (…)

“Withsomanydemandsonschoolsandteachers,theUnion hashadtoexamineitsapproachanddevisestrategies appropriatetothenewpoliticalandindustrialcontexts.The sheerquantityanddepthofelementsoftheprofessionaland industrialagendahaveputtheUniontothetest.

“WeareasmallUnionBranchbutthequalityoftheOfficers andstaff,supportedbyanactiveExecutiveandCouncil,have ensuredthatthechallengeshavebeenmetwithconsiderable success. (…)

“Fundingreductiontopubliceducationanddemandson educationtodeliverabroaderrangeofoutcomeshave combinedtomaketheworkofteachers,andtherefore educationunions,verydifficult.Weneedtodefendour conditionsandthequalityofoursystemthroughindustrial campaigningatthesametimeaswetakepositivestepsinthe professionalarena.Ifwefailtosupporttheenhancementand qualityofourpublicschoolswefacetheproblemofagrowing residualisationofgovernmentschools. (…)

“IfeelconfidentasIleavethePresidencythattheBranchhas apowerfulplaceintheTerritory.Wearerespectednotonly becauseourcampaignsandgoalsaregoodonesbutbecause anactive,involvedmembershipleadstosuccessfuloutcomes whenthebattlesarebeingwaged. (…)

“IurgeyoutocontinuethisoverthenextfewyearsasIbelieve thatpubliceducationisgoingtoremainunderattack.There arefeworganisationswhicharepreparedtotakeaprincipled andfocussedstandindefenceofpubliceducation.”

HELENHEPBURN

Theyearis1985.Therearenofemale principalsinthesecondarysectorand nowomenassistantprincipalsin secondarycolleges.Anewsecondary college,LakeGinninderracollege,is duetoopenin1986andtheselection processtoappointaprincipalis underway.

Thispositionisaplumjob,anewsecondary college!Intheeyesoftheestablishedorder onlyseniormenneedapply.Bythistime, womenhavestartedtowinmoresenior positionsandmenareacceptingthisfor morejuniorpromotionpositions.

Thereisafive-personselectionpanel:four women-twoofwhomareunionreps-and amalechair.Thereareabout10applicationsacouplefromsubstantiveprincipals,therest frompeopleseekingpromotion.Onlyone applicantisfemale,aprincipalofaprimary school.

Theselectionprocessusuallytakeslessthan aweek.Thisonetakesmuchlonger.The femaleapplicanthassubmittedanexcellent application,andisoneoffourwhoprogress tothenextstage.Aftertheinterviewsare conducteditisclearthewomanhasarich anddiversebackground,andanexceptional rangeofskillsandpersonalattributestobring totherole.

Thisapplicanthasnominatedtherequisite tworefereeswhobothgiveglowingreports. Inamovebarelybelievabletoday,sixfurther refereesaredeterminedbythepanelandare consulted.

Forfourofus,thefemaleapplicantwasthe preferredcandidate.Persuadingthechair requiredalotmoreeffort.Thiscaseclearly showsmethatunionmembersonselection committeesintroduceabroaderperspective, andabilitytothinkbeyondtheestablished norms.Thishasasignificantimpactlargely

becauseourvoteisofequalvaluetoallother members.Weunderstandourroleisto promoteonmeritandweactaccordingly. Thisselectionprocessisthemostcontentious Ihaveexperienced.Itevenresultedinaunion meetingbeingcalledbyoutragedsecondary principals,seekingtooverturntheappointment ofaprimaryschoolprincipaltoasecondary collegeprincipal’sposition.

Althoughthesuccessfulapplicantlosther positionafterappeal,broaderbenefitsdocome outofthis.Appealsarerestrictedtomattersof processandnotmerit,andapersonwhohas notappliedforapositioncannotlodgean appeal.

Withinafewshortyearswehavewomen promotedtosecondaryprincipals,andlater in2000,anotherprimaryprincipalwinsthe positionasprincipalatLakeGinninderra college:ourownlongstandingunionpresident, RosemaryRichards.

SUSANBANKS

Ibeganmyteachingcareerin1975at Chapmanprimaryschoolandjoinedthe unionsoonafter.Inmyveryfirstschool staffmeetingourprincipalannounced, assomethingofajoke,thathehadjust hadaphonecallwithanindignant womanwhosaidthekindergarten readingbooksweresexist.Iseizedthe opportunitytosay,“Ithinkshe’sright.”

Afrighteningsilencefollowedduringwhich IrealisedIwasnotexpectedtocomment,and seriouslywishedIhadn’t.Iampleasedtosay thatshortlyafterwardswithothersinthe TeachersFederationweformedtheElimination ofSexisminEducationCommittee.Now,when Ivolunteertohearprimaryschoolchildren read,thebooksaremostdefinitelynotsexist andarequitegoodwithdiversityaswell.

Above:HanddrawnposterforACTTFwomen’sconference1983.Cartoonright:TheACTTeacher1986.

MARGARETWADA

IjoinedtheACTteachingservicein 1983andimmediatelysawthatactive unionmembershipwentsomewayto addressthepowerimbalancebetween schoolexecutivestaffandclassroom teachers.

Whileschoolshaveaflatterhierarchythan someotherworkplaces,therewerestill instancesofpoorcommunicationandlack ofconsultationbetweenseniorstaffand classroomteachers.Activeparticipationinthe unionattheschoollevelinevitablymeantIwas electedtotheunion’sexecutive,participatedin monthlycouncilmeetings,andattendedATF conferences.

Duringthe1980stheindustrialrelations landscapewaschangingandtherewere regularmeetingswithmembersinschools. Explanationanddebateoftheworkplace reforms,unionamalgamationandenterprise bargainingwereamajorfocusfortheunion atthistime.

Irepresentedtheuniononseveraladvisory bodiestothedepartmentofeducation.Iwas determinedthatthiswasnotatoken consultativeprocessandImadesureIcould contributeandrepresenttheviewsand interestsofmembers.

Workingintheuniondeepenedmy appreciationoftheneedforcompassion towardsteachersandstudents.Itrainedas aspecialneedsteacherandfeltthateveryone shouldbeshownrespectandvaluedfortheir contribution.Thiswasnotalwaysthesituation withintheunionwheremenoftendominated conversationsandpushedtheirownagendas. Thishappeneddespitethedominanceof womenintheteachingservice.WhileIcalled outdisrespectfulbehaviourandeffectively stooduptobullies,Ibelievemisogynyisahard nuttocrack.

Changesinindustrialrelationspolicyand practiceinterestedmeandin1991Imoved tothedepartmentofindustrialrelations.My experienceattheAEUprovidedthe backgroundformetomovetoadifferentand morechallengingrole.IamgratefultotheAEU forprovidingtheopportunityforchange.

AUDREYDUKE

TothisdayIremainconvincedthat astrongunionpresenceineducation isinthebestinterestsofteachersand studentsandtheirfamilies.With50 yearsofexperiencebehindusIhave everyconfidencethatourACTbranch oftheAEUwillcontinuetoenhancethe teachingprofessionintothefuture.

Ibecameinvolvedintheunioninthe1980s, inaperiodofintenseactivityregardingissues thatparticularlyaffectedwomenintheteaching profession,suchaspart-timework.Ienlisted theunion’shelpincampaigningforpermanent part-timeworkwithsecurityandpro-rata conditionsforteachers.

ItwasduringthisperiodthatEliminationof SexisminEducationofficerswereappointed inallATFbranches.Therefollowedaperiod ofintenselobbyingandactionbywomenin theuniontointroduceaffirmativeaction measures,suchasthehigherdutiesallowance policy,whichensuredwomenwereencouraged toapplyforpromotions.

SEXUALHARASSMENT

Inlate1981,theCEOadoptedapolicyonsexual harassmentofstaffemployedintheACTSchools Authority.Theguidelinesandoperationsofthis policywereinlinewiththatpreviouslyadoptedin theAPS.

Sexualharassmentdoesnotrefertooccasional compliments.Itreferstobehaviourwhichisnot welcome,whichispersonallyoffensive,debilitates moraleandinterfereswiththeworkeffectivenessofthe victimsandtheirco-workers.

Sexualharassmentmayincludesuchactionsas: -sex-orientedverbalkiddingorabuse; -subtlepressureforsexualactivity; -physicalcontactsuchaspatting,pinchingor constantbrushingagainstanother’sbody; -demandsforsexualfavours,accompaniedby impliedorovertpromisesofpreferentialtreatment orthreatsconcerninganindividual’semployment status.

(...)

Atthe1981AnnualConferenceoftheACTTFthe CEO’spolicywaswelcomedandtheConferencecalled ontheCEOtosetuppolicyguidelineswithgrievance procedureswhichwouldcoverharassmentofstudents byteachersandstudents.

Anydiscriminatorypracticeswhichmakeschools unpleasantforgirlsandunderminetheconfidenceof girlsandaffecttheirabilitytoparticipateinschool activitiesisobviouslyundesirable.

Girlsatschoolhavetherighttoanenvironmentin whichtheycanconcentrateandwhichprotectstheir selfesteem.Theschoolcommunityisaveryclosed oneandharassingcommentsevenofajokingnature canmakefemalestudentsfeelundervalued.

Derogatoryremarkswhich‘putdown’anyparticular raceorsexhavenoplaceineducationalinstitutions whichseektofosterequalparticipation.

Ourunionhasarguedproceduresforevaluating teachersandIcontendthatsexualharassmentof studentswouldcertainlymakeapersonunfittobea teacher.

Allteachersareinamanagementroleinrelationto studentsandhavetheresponsibilitytodiscourageand confront‘putdowns’ofaparticularsex.Discrimination ofanysortisinfactnotaprivatematterbutshouldbe openlydiscussedanddiscouraged.

(...)

LynHarasymiw,Convenor ACTTFEliminationofSexismCommittee

TheACTTeacher,August1982p.5

Cartoonsandclippings:TheACTTeacher1981,1985,1987.TheCommonwealth Bank’ssexistad(left)appearsin1981issues-ajuxtapositioninaunion magazinefeaturingarticlesonsexismandsexualharassment.

MARIABASTEK

Theteachingprofessionwasmaledominatedand especiallyinmanagementroles.Itwasnotuntilthe late1960sthatwomenenteredtheprofessioninlarge numbers.Thiswasprimarilyduetoscholarshipsbeing madeavailablewhichcoveredthecostofuniversity coursesaswellasprovidingalivingallowance.It openedpossibilitiesforwomenwhodidnothave manyoptionsanditledtonotonlytertiaryeducation qualifications,butalsoprofessionalemployment.This measureattractedthebrightestwomen,infact,the top10%offemalestudents.

Forthefirsttimewomenswelledthenumbersofteachingstaff. Theywerebright,welleducated,butfoundthemselvesina workforcedominatedbymen.Themanagementpositionswere occupiedbymenandpromotionstothosepositionsasthey becameavailablewenttomen.Itwasararitytofindawoman insuchaposition.Therewasnocareerpath,therewereno,or veryfew,femalerolemodels.Therewasfrustrationandasense ofinjustice.Womencouldnotseeawayofchangingthissystem thatfavouredmenastheydidnothavetherequisiteknowledge andskillstomovetheirambitionsforward.

Itisthroughbeingunionmembersthatwomenlearnt howtomanagethesystemtoadvancetheir aspirations.Byattendingcouncilmeetingsas representativesoftheirschoolstheywereable tovoteonproposalsputforwardbymen,either asbeinginsupportoforagainsttheirproposals.This providedasenseofengagementandsomepower. Theysawstandingordersinoperationandhowthey couldbeusedtofurther,orblockanissue. Unfortunately,theystillfeltinsecureasthemencould bebrutallydisparagingofwomenwhentheystood uptospeak.Itwasaverybravewomantocontradict themen.

Womenwerehelpedinmakingprogressthrougha wonderfulcourserunbytheTradeUnionTraining Authority(TUTA).TheseexcellentTUTAcourses,run overanumberofdays,gavewomenhands-onskills. Theyprovidedinformationontherunningof meetings,theuseofstandingorders,themovement ofmotions,negotiationandtheroleofsupportat meetings.

Thisinformationwasfollowedbypractical experienceaswomenwereabletoroleplay,develop confidence,honetheirskillsandgobacktotheworkplace knowingthattheywouldbeabletofullyparticipateatmeetings

intheworkplace,atcouncilmeetingsandatannualgeneral meetings.

Thisallledtoagroundswellofwomen’sinvolvementintheunion. Westoodupatcouncilmeetings,weproposedmotions,we secondedthemandwepushedthroughourissues.Beforeevery AGMwemetinlargenumbersforaweekendatthecoast.We identifiedourneeds,weplannedourmovessuchaswhowould proposeandsecondmotions,andwehadanumberofspeakers organisedforthatday.Wewouldalsohelpspeakerswiththeir argumentsandthelanguagethatcouldbeemployedsothateach womanwaswellpreparedandconfident.Throughthisprocesswe madenotablegainsforwomenandpushedforEqualEmployment Opportunity(EEO).Thisincludedtheneedfor:womentobeon selectionpanelsforpositions;theselectioncriteriatotake accountofgenderbias;inclusionofcommitmenttoEEOas acriterioninselectionforpositions;managementpositions toreflectthegenderbreakdownoftheworkforce.Wealso advocatedforquotastobeadoptedtoensurethatsome managementpositionsdidgotowomen.

Allofthesechangeswouldnothavehappenedwithoutwomen’s participationintheunionwhichgaveustheknowledgeandskills tobringaboutchange.Agreatachievementandboosttochange wasgettingthefirstwomanelectedtosenioroffice:Cathy Robertson,whoservedassecretary1982,president1983-1984. CathywasfollowedbyJoanCorbettwhoservedassecretary 1983-1985.Thesecretary’spositionwasthenheldbrieflyby HelgaMcPhie(May-December1986).RosemaryRichardswas electedfollowingaconcertedcampaigntocontinuehavinga womaninaseniorposition,servingfirstassecretaryin1987, thenaspresident1988-1995.

WhenIreflectonthoseyearsIcannothelpbutthinkofthestrong, cleverandbravewomenwhotookhugeriskstobringabout change.Wemadesignificantprogressbutitwasnotwithoutcost. Therewerewomenwhowereseenas‘troublemakers’andwere nottobepromoted.Therewerewomenwhowereinthe professionalwildernessforsometimebeforetheymanagedtoget promoted.Therewerewomenwhoweredeterredfromever applyingforpromotion,andtherewerewomenwholeftteaching becausethepressureonthemasaresultoftheseadvocacyand lobbyingactivitiesbecametoogreat.

Wedidgrowaspeople,andasprofessionals,andmadelife-long friendships.IcertainlywouldnotbethestrongpersonIamtoday haditnotbeenforthisinvolvement.Theskills,knowledgeand friendshipsIgainedhavebeeninvaluable.

Wemadesignificant progressbutitwasnot withoutcost.Therewere womenwhowereseenas ‘troublemakers’andwere nottobepromoted. Therewerewomenwho wereintheprofessional wildernessforsometime beforetheymanagedto getpromoted.Therewere womenwhowere deterredfromever applyingforpromotion, andtherewerewomen wholeftteaching becausethepressureon themasaresultofthese advocacyandlobbying activitiesbecametoo great.

BARBARAJACKSON

Around1993,withtheurgingand enthusiasmofAudreyDuke,ourunion’s women’sofficer,weformedawomen’s choir.Wemetregularly,learntandsang inspiringandrallyingsongs.

Iwasalwaysfascinatedbyhowtheprimary schoolteacherslovedhandactionswhile singing.Iwasnotthatparticularlymusical butImanagedtofoolmostpeople.Ourunion’s women’schoirsangatvariousrallies,strike meetingsandothergigssuchasannual conferencesandwomen’sforums.

In1990Iobtainedatemporarypositionata school.Withthesupportofthefemaleprincipal (stillararityinthosedays)withsomeofmy colleaguesIformedaGenderEquity committee,andbeganlookingatchangingthe cultureoftheschoolandthecurriculum.This causedsomeirewithafewmalemembersof staffbutwepersistedand,Ibelieve,improved equalityforgirlsattheschool.

Intheperiod1989-1995theunion’sactivism wasatitsheight.Ireallyquiteenjoyedour massstrikesastheygavemeachanceto catchupwithformercolleagues.

IliketothinkthatinthoseyearsIassistedin theadvancementofgirls’educationandthe marchtowardsEqualEmploymentOpportunity.

From1991untilIleftthehighschoolsystemin 1998toworkinacollege,Iwasparodiedinthe annualyear10concert.Initially,Iwasdepicted assomemadwoman.Withinafewyearsthis evolvedintobeingportrayedasastrongand inspiringwomanwiththefemalestudents fightingoverwhowastoplayme,gettowear myartygear,andspeakstirringfeministwords.

LIVINGLEGENDS

InOctober2023AEUACTbranchpresident AngelaBurroughsjoinedastellarpanelwith livinglegends:BiffWard,aformerAEUACT member,women’sliberationactivistandauthor, andElizabethReid.Reidwasappointedby GoughWhitlamin1973aswomen'sadvisor tothePrimeMinister,afirstforAustraliaand theworld.

TheywerejoinedbyCatherineDwyer,thewriterand directorofaward-winningAustraliandocumentaryBrazen Hussies,whichexploresthewomen’sliberation movementofthe1960sand1970s.

Participantswereawedandinspiredbythecourage, perseveranceandresilienceofthethousandsofwomen whojoinedthewomen’sliberationmovement.The enormityofitsachievements,securingchangesthat seemnormalandobvioustousnow,contributetoit beingthemostsuccessfulmovementtodate.These includedtheremovalofthe‘marriagebar’requiring womentoresignwhentheygotmarried,equalpayfor workofequalvalue,freeaccesstohighereducation, protectionsforsinglemothers,accesstopaidmaternity leaveandgreatercontroloftheirownbodies.

Despitethesesuccesses,challengesremainandthe audiencewasremindedthatrightswoncanbelost. That’swhyitissoimportantthatstudentsunderstand thattherightsofwomentodaywereimaginedandwon bytheextraordinarywomenofthenotsodistantpast.

Oppositepage:ChoirperformingatATU women’sconference1993.

Above:BrazenHussiespanelL-RAngela Burroughs,BiffWard,CatherineDwyer, ElizabethReid.

Cartoons:TheACTTeacher1985.

Photos

SARAHWARREN

IamaproudunionmemberandlongstandingAEU vice-president.Iampassionateaboutgrowingour union’sstrengthandraisingitsprofilehoweverIcan: buildinghighfunctioningsub-branches;mentoring activists;andparticipatingineverycampaignandrally.

Ihavemadeaparticularpointinmyunionactivism tochampionthevitallyimportantworkofschool assistants.Iamproudofourunion’sadvocacyfor conversiontopermanentemploymentforschool assistants.Thishasbeenahugelyimportantwinfor schoolassistantmemberswhohavebeensubjected toinsecureworkingconditionsfortoolong.

Thereismoreworktodoasourunionadvocatesfor greatersystemsupport,employmentprotectionsand careerpathways.Ihaveeveryconfidencethatwiththe solidarityofourunionmembershipwewillcontinueto winpositivechangeforourschoolassistantmembers. MygirlsattendpublicschoolsandIamsurrounded withenergeticandinnovativeeducatorseveryday. Ihavebeensupportedthroughoutmycareerbystrong sub-branchrepresentatives,mentorteachersand awesomeschoolassistants–allAEUmembers.As IreflectonourAEUACTlegacy,Iamgratefulforour fighttomakeworkingconditionsbetterforthose enteringtheprofessionnow.

Photos Above:SarahWarren. Right:Sarahandotherunionrepsrecruiting. Oppositepage

Topright:ACTUwomen'sconference2024. L:KatieSlater.R:StephBurns.

Bottom:AEUwomen’snationalconference 2023.ParticipantslobbyingatParliament House,Canberra.

STEPHBURNS

Gettingtogetherwithwomenunionists isreliablyinspiringandfun!Theremust besomethingaboutunionworkthat attractswomenwithalotofheartand character.

Mykeytakeawayfromthe2024ACTU women’sconferenceisthatthereismuch tobehopefulandexcitedaboutforAustralian workers.

Ourunionsarevibrant,energisedandintune withtheconcernsandaspirationsoftheir members.Theconferencewasanexample ofhowcollaborationonkeyareassuchas women'srightscanmakeusallstronger.

Cartoonsandclippings:TheACTTeacher1984,1985.

1988

CliveHaggarisfirstelectedtosenioroffice. HebecomestheACTbranch’slongest servingofficer: Secretary1988-1995,2001-2007 President1996-2000

1988

ACTInstituteofTechnicalandFurther Educationcreated.

ACTgovernmentreport‘CommunitySchoolsfor Canberra1989-2000’foreshadowsschool amalgamationsandclosures.

1988

Theintroductionofrandombreath testingleadstothedemiseofthe ACTTeachersUnionclub.

1989

ACTbecomesself-governing. TheCommonwealthGovernment isnolongerresponsibleforfunding educationintheACT.

Substantialfundingcutstoeducation areforeshadowed.

Late1980stoearly1990s Persistentthemesoftheperiod: budgetcuts;schoolclosuresand amalgamations;teachersstressed anddisheartened.

Inflationat7%orhigher.

Photos Left:CliveHaggar.TheACTTeacher1982. Above:©CanberraTimes1988.Random breathtestingbeginsintheACT.

NICKEVANS

FromACTTFtoAEU

1987-1994wasaperiodofgreatchangeforwhat startedoutastheACTTeachersFederationandended asAustralianEducationUnionACTbranch.

Amalgamation

FromthetimetheAustralianTeachersUnion(ATU)wasfoundedin 1984discussionswereunderwayconcerningamalgamationofthe variousstateandterritoryteacherunionswiththeATU,inlinewith theAustralianCouncilofTradeUnion’sdriveforamalgamations. InAugust1991,theACTTFmergedwiththeATUafteraballotin which90%ofmemberssupportedtheamalgamation.

Co-operationbetweenthefederalunionandstateaffiliateshad alwaysbeenstrongbutthemergersolidifiedthisandhadtwo majorimpacts.

First,itincreasedthemotivationforthefederalofficetosupport branchindustrialactivities,particularlyfortheACTandNT brancheswhoseawardsandsalariesweredeterminedbythe AustralianIndustrialRelationsCommission(AIRC).Supportfrom thefederalofficeincreasedindesigningstrategy,conducting negotiationsandpresentingcasestotheAIRC.CliveHaggar reportsthatthiswasstillhappeningin2006withthefederal president,SharanBurrow,assistinginnegotiationsandafederal industrialofficerpresentingacaseunderWorkChoices.

TheCanberraTimes,Tuesday15 November1988.http://nla.gov.au/ nla.news-title11

Second,theamalgamationgavefurtherimpetustotheexpansion ofthecoverageofthebranchtoincludeancillarystaffinschools. Movingtoanindustry-basedratherthanprofession-basedunion madesensetoteacherunionofficials.Itwasnotsoobviousto schoolstaffandinitialprogresswasslow.

Itshouldalsobesaidthatthechangesinthestructureofthe unionthroughamalgamation,themovetoself-governmentforthe ACTbringingwithitaconcentrationonbudgetissues,meantthat theunionwasheavilyreliantonthesamegroupofactivist membersattheendofthesix-yearperiodbeingsurveyedhereas itwasatthestart.Recruitmentwasneveraproblem,butgetting membersinvolvedinthistimeofchangerequiredgreateffort.

In1990theAEUACTbranchmoveditsofficesfromashared arrangementwiththeIrishClubinWestontobrandnewoffices at40BrisbaneAvenue,Barton.Thenewlocationwascentral formoreoftheunion’smembersandwasamoderncorporate environmentintheParliamentarytriangle.Itseemssymbolicof thematurationoftheorganisation.Apartfrombeinginasuburban shoppingcentre,theWestonpremiseswerealsosubjectto patronsoftheIrishClubwanderingintotheofficeslettingstaff knowtheirviewsoneverythingfromhowstaffweredressedto thepoliticsoftheday.Itdidseem,however,thatsomethingof thegrassrootsstrengthoftheunionwaslost.

SalariesandWorkingConditions

TheACTbecameself-governingin1989which ledtoattemptsbyterritorygovernmentsof bothpoliticalpersuasionstoseektocut educationfundingonthepretextofbringing theACTinlinewithlevelsofstatefunding. Everyterritorybudgetintheseearlyyears seemedtoseekreductionsinstaffnumbers whichtheunioncampaignedagainstwith somesuccess,inpartduetogood relationshipsandsupportfromtheACT ParentsandCitizensAssociation.

Thisdidnot,however,stopgovernments continuingtoseekreductions.Inits1993-94 budgettheFolletLaborgovernmentsought toreducetheeducationworkforceby90 positions,80oftheminschools.Thisled tosignificantstopworkactionbyteachersin October1993.Thesecontinuingattemptsto cutstaffingcontinuedformanysubsequent years.

TeachersintheACT,alongsidethoseinNSW, hadalwaysbeenatornearthetoptierof salariesinthecountry.ThefactthatACT salariesweredeterminedbythefederalAIRC wasanattractivetoolforthefederalunionand theACTU.Consequentlyintheearly1990s, thebranchpresentedacasetotheAIRCabout howtheworkofteachershadbecomemore complex.

ThefederalAEUintervened,asdidtheACTU throughBillKelty,arguingthatthecase presentedinrelationtotheACThad applicationthroughoutthecountryandwould setanationalbenchmarksalaryforteachers. Everystateandterritorygovernmentmoved tocontestthisproposition.TheAIRCordered awageincreaseofaround5%.Whilethe nationalbenchmarkwasnotsetbythis decision,itdidprovidetheframeworkfor campaigning,andnegotiatedandarbitrated wageoutcomesforteachersforthenext decade,especiallyinlowerpaidjurisdictions.

Theunionalsoranasuccessfulcampaignto removeabarrierintheteachingsalaryscale whichpreventedthree-yeartrainedteachers movingbeyondamiddlesalarypoint.Higher salarieswereonlyavailabletothosewithfour yearsoftraining.

ThischangewaschampionedbyRosemary Richardsonthebasisthatallteacherswere expectedtodothesamejob.Thosewiththreeyeartrainingwerealmostexclusivelyfemale primaryschoolteacherswhenonlythreeyears trainingwasavailable.Therewasoppositionto thismovebysomefour-yeartrainedteachers whoweredispleasedwiththeunionposition butthechangewaseventuallymade.

WomenUnionists

Theroleofwomenintheunioncontinuedto grow,withAudreyDukebecomingtheunion’s firstwomen’sofficer.Dukehighlightedissues suchasparttimework,theeffectofbroken serviceandsuperannuation,thequalifications barrierandgenderdiscriminationinpromotion. Theunionwasactiveinnationaland internationalsocialjusticemovements,usually ledbyactivewomenmembers.

Asasmallbranchdealingwiththesameissues aslargerbranchestheAEUACTbranch managedtoeffectivelydealwiththefullrange ofpressuresduringthisperiod.Itdidso throughleadershipprovidedbytheincumbent leadersRosemaryRichardsandCliveHaggar, andthecontinuingconstructiveinvolvement ofsomeoftheoriginalofficeholders.

Imageright: ACTTFTAFEQualityinEducation campaign.TheACTTeacher1980.

In1988theACTInstituteofTechnicaland FurtherEducationwasformedsubsuming Canberra,BruceandWodencollegesand theOfficeofACTFurtherEducation.Thiswas accompaniedbyanewfundingagreement betweentheACTGovernmentandtheInstitute whichrequiredrationalisationand consolidationofcampuses,resultinginstaff, studentsandcoursesbeingrelocated.

Theunionsoughttominimisenegativeimpacts onmembersbuttherewassignificantunease amongmembersaboutthesemoves.The changesalsoincludedthecommercialisation ofrecreationalcourseswhichwerenolonger governmentfundedthroughthecreationof ACTAID(nowCITSolutions)displacingsome members.Thesechangeswereaccompanied byongoinggovernmentattemptstolessen throughnegotiation,arbitrationorfiat,the conditionsofTAFEteachers,seekingto: increaseweeklyteachingloads;reduceleave entitlements,andlessenovertimeeligibility. Theseattemptsoccurredacrossthecountry andwhiletheyresultedinminorchangesthey werelargelyunsuccessful.

Employers,however,circumventedthese conditionsbycontinuingtoincreasethe proportionofpart-timeandcasualteaching staffwhichhadanimpactonthequalityof teachingprovidedas,broadlyspeaking,these teachersdidnotgetpaidpreparationtime. Itwasalsodifficultfortheuniontorecruitthese teachersasmembersasteachingmightjust havebeenoneoftheirjobs.

Inaddition,theAustralianNationalTraining Authority(ANTA)wasestablishedin1992. Thisledto:nationallyrecognisedqualifications throughNationalTrainingpackages; contestablefundingformuchoftheVocational EducationandTrainingSector;theAustralian QualityTrainingframework,allofwhichposed greatchallengesforTAFEanditsstaff.The CanberraInstituteofTechnologycommenced on1January1993.

Strongcommitmentfromallstaff,including administrativestaffwaskeytotheunion’s successinthisperiod.

CASSANDRAPARKINSON

Atthemeetingweagreedto setupaworkinggroupto lookatwaysofaddressing sexismineducation.Thus begansomewonderfulyears andfriendshipsintheAEU.It wasakindofgingergroup, whichactedoutsidethe unionstructuresuntilwe builtupsupport(and perhapscourage)tocreatea unionsub-committee–that firststepseemedlikeabig dealatthetime.

Jobsforthegirls

IjoinedtheACTTeachersFederationsoonafterIstartedworking atCanberraTAFEcollegein1976.TheACTTAFEsystemwasin itsinfancy,havingpreviouslybeenpartofNSWTAFEandthere wereonlyafewmembersofthenewTAFEbranch.

NotlongafterIjoined,Isawanoticeintheunionnewsletter invitinginterestedmemberstoattendameetingtodiscusssexism ineducation.Idecidedtoattend,sayingtomyself,“Ireallyshould gobutI’mnotgoingtogetinvolvedinanything”.Famouslast words.

Atthemeetingweagreedtosetupaworkinggrouptolook atwaysofaddressingsexismineducation.Thusbegansome wonderfulyearsandfriendshipsintheAEU.Itwasakindof gingergroup,whichactedoutsidetheunionstructuresuntil webuiltupsupport(andperhapscourage)tocreateaunionsubcommittee-thatfirststepseemedlikeabigdealatthetime.

Wewantedtoencouragegirlsintonon-traditionaljobsand improvecareerprospectsforfemaleteachers,whowereunderrepresentedinseniorpositionsinschoolsandcolleges.

Wesoonrealisedthattoachieveourgoalswe’dneedtobecome moreinvolvedinuniondecision-making.Infairlyquicktime IbecameaTAFErepresentativeontheunioncouncilandthen amemberoftheexecutive,electedonthesamedayas RosemaryRichards.

Twoachievementsstandout.Theunionsupportedourcallfora designatedrolewithintheACTSchoolsAuthoritytotargetgender discriminationandRosemaryRichardswasappointed.Istillrecall agroupofusworkingwithhertodraftthefirstbooklets encouraginggirlstoenternon-traditionaljobs.Wecalledthem ‘Jobsforthegirls’.

Second,thecommitteewonavoteatannualconferenceto introducepermanentparttimeworkforteachers,alandmark decisionthatI’mprettysurewasthefirstinAustralia.Coming fromTAFEwheretherewerefartoomanycasualandcontract positions,Isecondedthemotion.(Irememberpractisingmy wordsintheshowerinanattempttocontrolmynerves.Itwas thefirsttimeIspokeinpublicwithoutaquaveringvoice.)

WithinTAFE,withtheinvolvementofallthreecollegeprincipals, weestablishedasexualharassmentworkinggroupthat developedsystem-widepolicy.LedbyKeithPantlin,wewon vastlyimprovedconditionsforTAFEcasualandparttime teachers.Andtheunionagreedtocreateanewfeestructurefor casualandparttimeteachers,makingitmoreaffordableforthem tojoin.(SomeyearslaterItriedtopersuadesomeofAustralia’s biggestunionstodolikewisebuttheywouldn’thaveabarofit.)

WhenIthinkbackonthoseheadyyearsI’mstruckbytheenergy andcommitmentthatsmallgroupofwomenbroughttotheir work.Itwasanexcitingtime,atimeofhope,andwewantedto

changetheworld.Andwedidmakeimportant changesthatpavedthewayforotherreforms thatfollowed.

Manyofusfromthatearlygroupmovedinto seniorpositionsintheunion.CathyRobertson waselectedastheACTTF’sfirstfemale secretaryandpresident,JoanCorbettbecame ACTTFsecretaryandthefirstwomen’sofficer ofthefederalunion.RosemaryRichardswas alsoelectedsecretaryandlaterthepresident oftheunion.AudreyDukewaselectedasa vice-presidentandthefirstwomen’sofficerof theACTTF.AndIjoinedthenationalexecutive oftheTAFEteachersassociationoftheAEU, becomingnationalpresidentand,in1980, nationalsecretary.

WhenIthinkbackonthoseheadyyearsI’m struckbytheenergyandcommitmentthat smallgroupofwomenbroughttotheirwork. Itwasanexcitingtime,atimeofhope,and wewantedtochangetheworld.Andwedid makeimportantchangesthatpavedtheway forotherreformsthatfollowed.

MEGANETHERIDGE

Iquicklyrecognisedthat, althoughpart-time teachinginTAFEwas verycommon,thepay systemwasfarfrom robustwithsystemfailure anddelayedpayments commonplace.MostparttimeteachersinTAFE werewomen,manysingle mothers,andtheyrelied onreliablepaymentof wages.

Bettermentofthesystem

IbecameTAFEliaisonofficerin1984.Iwasapart-timeTAFE teacherofEnglishasasecondlanguageatBruceTAFEand WodenTAFE.

Iquicklyrecognisedthat,althoughpart-timeteachinginTAFE wasverycommon,thepaysystemwasfarfromrobustwith systemfailureanddelayedpaymentscommonplace.MostparttimeteachersinTAFEwerewomen,manysinglemothers,and theyreliedonreliablepaymentofwages.

Ijoinedtheunionsoonaftercommencingteachingbecause Iwantedtojointhestruggletoimprovethepaysystemfor part-timeteachers.

ThepositionofTAFEliaisonofficerwasadvertisedandthe potentialpowerofworkingtogethertochangeprocessesthat wereunfairanddiscriminatorymademeapplyfortheposition. Initiallythepositionwas10hoursperweeksoIcontinued teachingaswell.Thatsoonbecameimpossibleasmemberskept approachingmeabouttheirconcernseverytimeIturnedupfor teaching.MyhourswereextendedandIwasgiventhejobof producingthenewsletter,ajobwhich,fortunately,was organisationalratherthanskilful.Asmembershipincreasedand workingconditionsbecameahotissueunderthenewindustrial bargainingagreement,theSecondTier,therolewasmadefull timeandthenewsletterbecametheprovinceofsomeonewho knewwhattheyweredoing.

Theyearsofenterprisebargainingandsecondtiernegotiations wereall-consumingandcouldhavedegeneratedintosignificant industrialaction.Instead,duetothestrongworkingrelationships thathadbeenbuiltupoverseveralyearswithmanagement, workingconditionswerenotsubstantiallyerodedinthenameof productivity.Consultationwiththeunionwasrobustduringthis periodofsignificantchangewhereallseniorpositionsacrossthe TAFEsystemwerespiltandunionsandmanagementcollaborated intherecruitmentprocess.

Duringthisprocess,wetooktheopportunitytomakechanges thatweretobenefitourmembers.Acoupleofitemsthatcome tomindbothinvolvedKeithPantlin,aTAFEmathsteacherand activeandsupportiveunionmember.Itwasproposedthat,in recruitingtothenewsystem,anumericalscalebeusedtojudge merit.Keithsteppedinwithalogicalargumentastowhythiswas unfairandtheproposalwaslost.

Innegotiatinghoursofwork,TAFEmanagementsought agreementtoreducestanddown(i.e.annualleave)from11weeks tosixweeksplusfourweeksannualleaveandthatthefourweeks wouldencompassthreeandsometimesfourpublicholidays (ChristmasEve,ChristmasDay,NewYearsDayandsometimes theAustraliaDayholiday,whichvariedindateinthosedays becauseitwasalwaysonaMonday).

Keithproposedthatthefourweeksannual leaveshouldberedefinedas20days.This wasacceptedandresultedinteachersactually having17daysofannualleave(andsometimes 16days)overtheChristmasholidayperiod. Tosummarise,teachershadfourweeksoff, including16or17daysofannualleavein December/January,plussixweeksstanddown,plustheoutstandingthreeorfourextra daysofannualleave.Theseextradaysbecome knownasthe‘Pantlindays’.With‘Pantlin days’,teachersonlylostoneortwodays ofholidaysperyear,ratherthanaweekas proposedbymanagement.Formanyyears afterwards,teacherswouldapplytopersonnel fortheir‘Pantlindays’.Thisnameinfuriated personnel,asnosuchleaveexisted,theywere justoutstandingannualleavedays.

Duringtheyearsofmytenure,thelatepayment ofpart-timeteachersbecamechronic.Atone pointwehad1,100outstandingclaims.Cathy Robertson,unionpresidentatthetime,took theissuetotheConciliationandArbitration Commissionandwon.TAFEwasdirectedto payoutstandingclaimsimmediately.Therate ofpart-timeemploymentinTAFEcontinuedto risewithcontractsendingonthelastdayofthe teachingyearandstartingonthefirstdaythe nextyear.Theunion,underthelateRosemary Richards,tookupthecasetogiveteachers whohadstruggledwiththisunfairemployment systemforconsecutiveyears,therightto permanentemployment.

Theseyearswerecharacterisedbystrong membershipnumbers,incrediblesupportfrom someveryactivemembersandaccessible managementwhowerekeentocooperatefor thebettermentofthesystem.Iworkedhard, learntalotandmetmanywonderfulpeople. IlefttheuniontojointheNationalTraining Boardwheremybackgroundintheunion wasvalued.

TheACTTeacher,October1982.

Itwassuggestedatthelastmeetingof theEliminationofSexisminEducation Committeethatwepublisharticlesby/ about/forwomeninonesectionofthis journal.Mstakesistheresultofthat suggestion.

Ifyouhaveanarticle,cartoonoritemyou thinksuitablepleasesendittotheESIE Committeec/oTheFederationviathe courier.

Soyou’rethebastardthatsoldusout

KEVINPEOPLES

IbeganteachingatReidTAFEin1981,having hadmultiplecareersbeforeteaching.Ibrought considerableskillstoTAFEandtheAEU, includingacommitmenttounionism.

In1986Ibecamevice-presidentTAFEofthe AEUACTbranch.Imademyselfunpopular withteachersatourBrucecampuswhotaught electricaltrades’apprentices.Manyofthem taughtonlyatnightandtookadayofftorun theirprivatebusinessandrarelyturnedup duringtheday.Teachersweregiventimeand ahalfforteachingatnight.Iwasunimpressed withthemandtheywereunimpressedwithme.

Withthesupportofmanagement,theAEUACT TAFEbranchintroducedanadvancedskillsor masterteachercategorywithanallowance. Thiswasanexcellentideaasitkeptourbest teachersintheclassroom.Irememberjoining theprincipalofBrucecampus,toassessthe claimsofteacherstobecomemasterteachers. WebothagreedthataReidteacherwas outstandingandwellworthyofmasterteacher status,buttherestwereextremelydoubtful. Theprincipal,however,madeitcleartomehe wouldnotsupporttheReidteacherifIdidnot supportoneBruceteacher.Ihadnochoicebut toagree.

Notnincompoops

Byfarthemostimportant‘hot-button’issue ofmytimeinTAFEwastheso-calledtraining reformagenda.IworkedatTAFEatthebest oftimesandtheworstoftimes.Itallstarted quietlyenoughasaresultoftheKangan Reportof1974.MyerKanganestablishedTAFE asalegitimateeducationalsectorbetween schoolsanduniversities.

WhenIleftin1997,theTAFEIjoinedwas unrecognisable.Theneoliberal,privatemarket ideologues,whointhemainknewnothing aboutTAFE-Ishouldknow,Ilistenedtotheir ignorantspeechesatmanyconferenceswantedcontrolofTAFEwiththeadventof globalisationandthegrowthofnew technologies.Newworkskillswererequired. Australiahadtocompeteontheworldstage. WorkpatternsthathadservedAustraliafor muchofthe20thcenturyneededtochange.

ThoseofuswhowereleadersoftheAEUknew that.Wewerenotnincompoops.Thosepartsof TAFEdirectlyinvolvedwithapprenticesand thoseinemploymentcontracttraininghad tochange.ButnotallofTAFE.

OpeningtheAustralianeconomybecamethe catch-cry.TAFEcameunderscrutiny.The ‘experts’didn’tlikewhattheysaw.Therewere majorproblems:‘toomuchfurthereducation’; ‘toomuchsandwich-making’;‘insufficient emphasisonworkskillsforindustry’;‘it’sthe economy,stupid’;‘TAFEpeopledon’t understand’.ButKanganhadtaughtTAFE teachersthatfurthereducationwasnot somethingdistinctfromvocationaleducation. Theywerepartofaneducationalcontinuum. Wewerecateringforcommunityneeds.Giving peoplesecondchances.Peoplewithpoor literacyandnumeracyskillsmustbegiventhe opportunitytoimprovethoseskillsiftheywere tohaveachanceofmakingdecisionsabout vocationaltrainingandcareers.TheAEUwould notselloutthesepeople.Theywere80%of ourstudents.

Competitivetrainingmarket

TheHawke-Keatinggovernment(1983-1996) wasfocussedonthe20%ofTAFEstudents directlyinvolvedwithindustry.Itignoredpublic TAFE.Thetrainingreformagendamustbe industrydriven.

In1993,PaulKeatinglaunchedhiscampaign tobecomePrimeMinisterfromtheAEU’s federalconference.AEUfederalpresident,

SharanBurrowaskedmetospeakwithPaul Keating.Ihadthreeminutestoexplaintohim howthecreationofanartificialtradingmarket waskillingTAFE.Keatinglentinandlistened intently,thenreplied,“It,thatis,themarket, wasnevermeanttoworklikethat.”

Laterin1993,withtheelectionoftheKeating government,acompetitivetrainingmarketwas established.Privateprovidersreceived commonwealthgrowthfunds.Quality vocationalpathwaysweredefinedbyindustry standards.Competency-basedassessment replacedthepreviousTAFEmodel.Partsof TAFElostcontrolofthecurriculumandits independence.Keatinglostthe1996federal election.UnderLabor,industryincluded employersandemployees.UnderJohn Howard,theconservativesdropped employees.Trainingreformwastoberun bybusiness.

Userchoice

Trainingpackages,developedbybusiness in1997,becameacorepartofthenew apprenticeshipscheme.Theywerecustomised tomeetparticularneeds.Withaconsumer-led market,wherestudentsbecame‘clients’, anew‘Userchoice’modelwasintroduced. Employerswereabletoselecttheirown trainingproviderwhocouldbestmeettheir specifictrainingneeds.Therelatedpublic fundsthenwenttotheprovider.Employers whohadpreviouslyfundedandprovidedtheir ownon-sitetrainingcouldnowbefundedfrom thepublicpurse.TAFEwasbeginningto resembleWoolworths.Ifwedidn’thavethe exactbrandemployerswantedonourshelf, theytriedanothershop.

AsthefederalTAFEpresidentoftheAEU, (1994-1997)Iwasatthecentreofthese momentouschanges.ManyTAFEunionistshad littleunderstandingofwhatwashappeningand howpowerlessourunionhadbecome.

IremembervisitingaTAFEcollegeinTasmania whereIwasintroducedtoateacherwho walkedintothestaffroom.Iwenttoshakehis hand.Ignoringmyhandhesimplysaid,“So you’rethebastardwhosoldusout.”

BIANCAHENNESSY

Inthecompetitivemarketenvironment describedbyKevinPeoples,theCanberra InstituteofTechnologyfacednewpressures tocompeteforstudentsandfunding.TheAEU ACTbranchworkedcloselywithCITstaffto protectworkingconditionsandmaintain educationalqualityinthefaceofthese challenges.

The2000ssawfurthermarketisationof vocationaleducation.Governmentfundingfor TAFEdeclinedinrealterms,whilesupportfor privateRTOsincreased.TheAEUconsistently lobbiedstateandfederalgovernments, warningoftherisksofunderminingthepublic TAFEsystem.Theunion'seffortshelped mitigatesomeoftheworstimpacts,particularly intheACTwhereCITmaintainedstronger governmentsupportcomparedtosomeother jurisdictions.

From2009,Victorianreformsallowingfull contestabilityofpublicVETfundingspread tootherstates.This‘demand-driven’model ledtoexplosivegrowthinprivateRTOs,often deliveringlow-quality,short-durationtraining. TheAEUlaunchedamajorcampaignagainst thesereforms,highlightingthevitalroleof TAFEinprovidingcomprehensive,quality vocationaleducation.Despitetheseefforts, TAFEinstituteslikeCITsawenrolmentsand fundingdeclinesharplyasprivateproviders capturedmarketshare.

Bythemid-2010s,problemswiththemarket modelwerebecomingapparent.Numerous privateRTOscollapsed,leavingstudentswith hugedebtsandworthlessqualifications.The AEUhadlongwarnedoftheserisks,andnow usedthesefailurestobolsteritscasefor restoringTAFEfunding.Theunionlaunched its‘StopTAFECuts’campaignin2016, advocatingforguaranteedfundingforTAFE andrecognitionofTAFE’sroleasthepublic provider.

RebuildWithTAFEcampaign

ThiscampaignmarkedashiftintheAEU's strategy,movingfromadefensiveposture toaproactivepushtorebuildTAFE.Theunion investedheavilyinresearch,community

outreachandpoliticallobbying.Itworkedtobuild allianceswithindustrygroupsandother stakeholderswhorecognisedtheimportance ofastrongpublicTAFEsystem.IntheACT,the AEU'sbranchworkedcloselywithCITstaffand managementtopositiontheinstituteasamodel ofwhatawell-supportedpublicTAFEcould achieve.WehighlightedCIT'sstrongconnections withlocalindustry,itscomprehensivecourse offeringsanditsroleinsupportingdisadvantaged students.

TheelectionoftheAlbaneseLaborgovernment in2022markedasignificantvictoryfortheAEU's TAFEcampaign.Laborhadcommittedto rebuildingTAFEasthecentrepieceofvocational education,largelyadoptingthepolicyplatform theAEUhadbeenadvocatingforyears.Theunion quicklyincreasedfocusonitsRebuildwithTAFE campaign,pushingforswiftimplementation ofthesepromises.Thetimingwasright:afterthe pandemic,AustraliansrecognisedthatTAFEwas crucialforoureconomy,andourcommunity. TheAEU,however,recognisedthatthenew governmentcouldnotreversethedamageof yearsofunderfundingandmarketisation.The unioncontinuedtoadvocateforguaranteedlongtermfundingforTAFEinstituteslikeCIT,arguing thatthiswasessentialforproperplanningand investmentinstaffandfacilities.TheAEUalso pushedforreformstoaddressthecasualisation oftheTAFEworkforce,whichhadincreased dramaticallyduringtheyearsoffundingcuts. IntheACT,theunionnegotiatedimprovements tojobsecurityandprofessionaldevelopment opportunitiesforCITstaff.Theenterprise bargainingcampaignof2023broughtCIT teachersapayincreaseaboveotherpublic servantsforthefirsttimeever,andputthem onamuch-awaitedroadtopayparitywithschool teachers.CITbecamethefastest-growingsite ofAEUrecruitment,aseducatorssawthevalue ofunionstrength.

ForCITandotherTAFEinstitutes,thefuturelooks brighterthanadecadeago,largelythankstothe tirelessadvocacyoftheAEUanditsmembers. However,theunionremainsvigilant,knowingthat ongoingcampaigningiscrucialtosecureTAFE's long-termsustainabilityanditsvitalrolein Australia'seducationandtraininglandscape.

Previouspage:1993KevinPeopleslobbyingPrimeMinisterPaulKeating onthecharterforAustralianTAFEatAEUfederalconference. Above:2021AEURebuildWithTAFEcampaign.

Photos

1990s

1990

BranchmovestonewofficesinBarton. Theofficeislocatedintheparliamentary trianglebutisnotbigenoughtohold membermeetingsandevents.

ACTbranchannualreportstates: ‘Yetweallknowthattostemthe flowofteachersoutoftheprofession andtoattractmotivatedandhighly talentedrecruitsnotonlymust teachers’salariesbeaddressed,but themajorissuesofstaffing, structures,classsizes,professional developmentandcareerstructures forteachersmustalsobe negotiated.’

1991-2020 Inflationmostlybelow3%.

1991

ACTTFbecomesACTbranchofthe AustralianTeachersUnion.

1992

LandmarkMabodecisionbytheAustralian HighCourtrecognisingtheexistenceofNative TitleandrejectingthenotionthatAustralia was terranullius atthetimeofBritish settlement.

Photoabove:1989L-RDavePassi,EddieMabo,Bryan Keon-Cohen,JamesRiceoutsidetheQueensland SupremeCourt.https://www.nma.gov.au/definingmoments/resources/mabo-decision Cartoonright:TheACTTeacher1985.

1993

CanberraInstituteofTechnologyis established(replacingACTInstituteof TechnicalandFurtherEducation).

CITlogoisdesignedbyMicheleSinclair, aCITstudentstudyinggraphicdesign.

1994-1997

KevinPeoples,memberofATUACT Branch,isTAFEFederalPresident.

1995

TheATUACTbranchannualreportnotes thatin‘late1994theunionachievedanEA providing4.5%salaryincreaseandbrought ACTteacherstothehighestrateinthe country’.Italsonotesthat ‘oneofthemost significantissuesformembershasbeen theimpactofarangeofcurriculum initiativesontheworkloadandmorale ofteachers’.

1995 Unionfeesnow0.85%ofgrosssalary.

1995 Hardtimesahead Unionleadersbracemembersforhard times:‘Relativelyeasilywongainsofthe lasttwoyearsEAsareunlikelytobe availablenexttime.’

1999 PopulationofACTis335,000.

1999-2000 PublicEducationWorkscampaign.

CLIVEHAGGAR

Theunionhasworked tirelesslyinthecauseof publiceducation,the teachingprofessionand socialandeconomic justicesinceitscreation. Peopleofintelligence, commitmentand determination,principle andempathy,andleaders attheinternational, national,andlocallevel havebeenlinkedthrough theunionbyapowerful bondtomakeabetter futureforindividuals, communityandsociety.

Milestones

Somechangesaresmall,butothersshiftthe foundationsofbothourworkandourparticipationas citizens.OnesuchshiftoccurredinAustraliabetween 1996and2007-ashiftwhichposednewchallengesfor theunionmovementbutalsodrovenewandmore effectivewaysofworkingforworkers’rightsandfor socialjustice.

Theunionhasworkedtirelesslyinthecauseofpubliceducation, theteachingprofessionandsocialandeconomicjusticesinceits creation.Peopleofintelligence,commitmentanddetermination, principleandempathy,andleadersattheinternational,national, andlocallevelhavebeenlinkedthroughtheunionbyapowerful bondtomakeabetterfutureforindividuals,communityand society.

Self-government

In1988withtheadventofself-governmentintheACT,theACT SchoolsAuthoritywasarbitrarilyabolished,basedonthe argumentthatalocallyelectededucationministerandlegislative assemblywouldmakeanindependentSchoolsAuthority unnecessary.However,thechangeresultedinasignificant reductionininputs,particularlybyparentsandcommunity members,andbytheunion,andcontributedtotheturmoilofthe earlyyearsofself-government.

ThefundingoftheACTcommunity,incomparisontowherewe'd satunderthefederalfovernmentinmostoftheHawke-Keating years,becamethemostsignificantissueon-goingfortheunion andtheACTgovernment.Theuniondevelopedahighmedia profileandarguedthecaseforpubliceducationinthefaceof repeatedattacksonschoolfunding.

Othereducationsectorsalsofacedsignificantpressure.Before self-governmentthepreschoolswerebroughttogetherundera disbursedadministrativestructure.Thecentralofficetookcontrol underminingthesenseofbelongingtoapreschoolcommunity thatpreviouslyexisted.Subsequentlytheunionsupportedthe amalgamationofpreschoolswiththeirlocalprimaryschools.A systemofTAFEcollegeswithlargelypermanentstaffbecamea singleinstitutionrelyingoncasualisedstaffinacompetitive trainingmarketwhichunderminedqualityprovision.

Schoolclosures

Schoolclosureswereaverysignificantelementpostselfgovernmentandverychallengingfortheunionbecauseitwas committedtothefoundationconceptofneighbourhoodschools, butalsofacedthesituationwheredemographicchangesand decliningenrolmentshadamajorimpactoneducationalquality andworkloads.

Theintroductionofnew Howardgovernment fundingmodels entrenchedprivateschool expansiontothe detrimentofpublic education.TheAEU respondedwithnational andlocalcampaigns seekingfundingona needsbasis.TheACT Branch‘PublicEducation Works’campaign influencedpublic sentimentlocallyandwas adoptednationally.

Canberrahadanactivecommunityfightingschoolclosuresduring thattime.Inresponsetheuniondevelopedapolicyapproachthat lookedattheeducationalviabilityofschools.Thiscameintoplay evenproactivelyasinthecaseofthelatercreation,through amalgamationofschoolslikeSouthernCrossandBrindabellaas preschooltoyear10schoolswithunionsupport.

Changingtheworkforce

Somesignificantchangesthatwesawduringthe1990swerethe removalofseniorityandtheappealsprocessinpromotionand merit-basedrecruitment.Peoplethesedaysfinditstrangethatwe couldhavehadasystemthatreliedonseniorityratherthanon merit.Recognitionthroughsalaryofothertypesofworkandtime parentingwerealsointroduced.

Principalsalsowantedchange.Theywerekeenonschool-based managementandsalaryincreasesthattheythoughtwouldcome tothemasaresultandbyhavingaseparatedsalaryagreement fromtherestofthemembership.Thisseparationlastedone agreementbeforetheprincipalsaskedtocomebackintothe singleagreementwiththerestofthemembershipin2000 becausetheuniondidmuchbetteroverallforeveryoneelse becauseoftheindustrialandpoliticalpressureitcouldbringto bear.

Theimpactofconservativegovernments

In1995and1996theelectionofboththeCarnellgovernmentin theACTandtheHowardgovernmentfederallywasthebeginning ofanotherseriesofbattlesoverprioritiesandfundingforpublic education.Weimmediatelyfacedpublicsectorcutsand particularlyfederalgovernmentantipathytowardspublic educationandtheroleofunions.

Subsequently,theACTbranchconvincedtheAEUfederallyto pushforasenateinvestigationintotheprofessionalstandingof teachers.Theresultingreportwas,AClassAct:InquiryintoStatus ofTeachingasaProfession(1998).Itwasaverysuccessful report.Itbeganaprocessofunderminingtheright-wingmedia andpoliticalattacksthatweregularlyfacedbecauseitendedthe debateastowhetherteachingwasaprofession.

TheintroductionofnewHowardgovernmentfundingmodels entrenchedprivateschoolexpansiontothedetrimentofpublic education.TheAEUrespondedwithnationalandlocalcampaigns seekingfundingonaneedsbasis.TheACTbranch‘Public EducationWorks’campaigninfluencedpublicsentimentlocally andwasadoptednationally.

Anexpansionofunionservicestomemberswasalsoimportant duringthistimeinmaintainingmembershipasthefederal governmentworkedtoundermineunionmembership.We expandedlegalprotectionthrougharetaineragreement,provided

journeyinsurance,discountedlaptops,discountedpurchasing, andtravel,increasedprofessionaldevelopment,highquality professionaljournalsandcontinuedcampaigningonissuesof need.

Campaigningforchange

WithACTgovernmentsofallstripesdesperatelytryingtobalance ACTbudgetsduringthistime,andtoagreaterorlesserdegreeall ofthemfocusedonreducingexpenditureineducation,theunion wasabletodefeatverylargecomponentsofthatagendaoverthe yearsthroughconstantcampaigning.Threesignificantcampaigns standout.The‘PriorityOne’educationcampaigninthe1990ssaw significantwageincreasesandfundsforprofessional development.The2000campaignsawsome$24millionputinto earlyyearsclass-sizereductioninoursystemwiththeelectionof thefirstStanhopeALPgovernmentin2000.

Thethirdcampaignofsignificancewastheunion’s2005-2007 campaignagainsttheStanhopegovernment’sattemptstoclose schools,cutteachernumbersby10%andreducesalary outcomes.ThiswasconductedundertheHoward-era draconianWorkChoiceslegislation(2005),inwhichtheACT LaborgovernmenthiredthelawfirmthattheHowardgovernment hadusedtopushthelegislationthroughtheParliamentandthe HighCourt.

Adifficultandbitterperiod

In2005,basedonincorrecttreasuryadvice,theStanhopeLabor governmentcametobelievethatdeepcutsneededtobemade ineducationfunding.Theproposalforsystemicrestructureand resourcecutstoschoolinghadamassiveimpactonteacher moralethroughouttheyear,and2006nowranksasthemost difficultyearoftheACTeducationsystem’shistoryuntilthe currentteachershortagecrisis.

The2006educationbudgetcutsweretoinclude:

•eliminationof145school-basedand90office-based positions

•highschoolstofacealossof70positions(equivalent totheincreaseinpositionspromisedbythegovernment in2004)

•secondarycollegestofacealossof50positions

•secondaryteacherswouldseeteachingloadsincreased to20hoursperweek

•plannedclosureof39preschoolsandschools

•a5%cuttotheCanberraInstituteofTechnology(CIT) funding.

2000s

Theproposalforsystemic restructureandresource cutstoschoolinghada massiveimpacton teachermorale...and 2006nowranksasthe mostdifficultyearofthe ACTeducationsystem’s historyuntilthecurrent teachershortagecrisis.

Thegovernmentalsobegannegotiationsforanewwagesand conditionsagreementbyofferingasalaryincreaseofonly9% overthreeyears-aproposalthatwouldhaveresultedinawage cutinrealterms.

ThewaytheACTgovernmentconductedthebudgetcutsand wagesnegotiationshadaprofoundandongoingimpacton teachermorale.Memberswereparticularlyangeredbydelaysand fivedifferentoffersmadebygovernment.Ittook18monthsfrom theservingofthelogofclaimsontheemployerandanarbitrated outcome.

Numerousstop-works,marchesanddemonstrationsandamedia campaignwereundertakenduring2006whichledtoan agreementthatthepartieswouldundertakevoluntaryarbitration toresolvethedispute.Itwasthedecisionofbranchcouncilin October2006totimetablefurtherstrikeactionthatfinallyforced thegovernmenttoagreetoanarbitrationprocess.Thearbitration decisionof12January2007endedthelongest-runningindividual disputeinthehistoryoftheACTteachingworkforce.

Thetimingoftheannouncements,however,alsocauseddistress andconfusionforschoolsandteachers.Schoolclosuredecisions wereannouncedinthelastweekofthe2006schoolyear,with22 preschoolsandschoolstocloseoverathree-yearperiod.Many newandtransferringteachershadnoideawheretheyweretobe teachinguntildaysbeforethe2007schoolyearwasto commence.

Secondaryschoolsbegantheteachingyearwiththeaddition ofa19thhourofface-to-faceteaching,toaccommodatethe government’sstaffcutof35positionsinhighschooland25 insecondarycolleges.

Duringthearbitrationhearings,theACTgovernmentreceived revisedadvicefromtreasurythatthebudgetwouldbeinsurplus ratherthandeficitbytheendofthe2007-08financialyear.The EBAprocess(incorporatingthearbiter’sdecisions)concluded withan11.5%increasepaidover18months,maintainingACT teachers’salariesovertheperiodoftheagreementasthehighest orsecond-highestinthecountry.Thesalaryincreases,however, werescantrecompenseforthepersonal,financial,emotionalcost toteachersandthedisruptiontothestartofthe2007schoolyear.

Interestingly,followingthedecision,thechiefministerasked tomeetwiththeunionandatthemeetingapologisedforthe behaviourofhisgovernmentduringthedisputeandrequested thesupportoftheunioninrepairingthedamagecausedtopublic educationbyitsactions.

Theunionalsospentmuchof2006and2007campaigning againsttheHowardgovernment’sWorkChoiceslegislation alongsidetheAEUnationallyandtheACTU,leadingtothedefeat ofthegovernmentattheNovember2007elections.

2000

GSTintroducedincludingon AEUsubscriptions.

38,000studentsattend95ACT publicschools.

EAisfinalised:11.6%overthreeyears.

Debatestartsaboutateacher registrationbodyintheACT.

2003

On18January2003theACTexperiences themostdestructivebushfiresinitshistory. Fourpeopledie,hundredsareinjuredand 510propertiesaredestroyed.

Thefiresarethesubjectofseveralinquiries andacoronialinquest,whichproducefarreachingrecommendationstoimprovethe ACT’sfireresponse.

Photo:FrontcoverofTheACTTeacher,February2003.

2008 February13

PrimeMinisterKevinRuddoffersaformal apologytoAustralia'sIndigenouspeoples, particularlytheStolenGenerations,on behalfofthenationatParliamentHouse.

2008 NAPLANintroduced.

2009

Ruddgovernment’sBuildingtheEducation Revolutionprovides$145mforupgradesto ACTpublicschools’infrastructure.

2009 Paidmaternityleaveincreasesto18weeks.

2009

NewEAprovides6.1%payincrease overtwoyears.

2010s

2010 24June JuliaGillard becomesAustralia’s 27th PrimeMinister andfirstwomanto holdtheoffice.

2011

Lasttimestrikeactiontaken duringEA negotiations.

ACTTeacherQualityInstitute established asregistrationbodyforACT teachers,thelastjurisdictiontodoso.

2013 Gonskireformsintroduced.

2014

Newfour-yearEAsecures12.6%pay increase.ACTteachersremain3rd bestpaid teachersinthecountry.

Photos

Above:CrowdsgatherinfrontofParliamentHouse tohearKevinRudd’sapology Aboveright:PrimeMinisterJuliaGillard. Right:AEUmemberscampaigningforGonski reforms,Canberra.

BIANCAHENNESSY

Thestrugglerageson

Alleyeswereonthefederalstagein2013-theGonski reformsneededstateandterritorybuy-in,andJulia Gillardfoughtanuphillbattletogettheirsupport.The AEUcampaignedacrossthecountrytosecurefunding increasesandstabilitytopubliceducation.

TheACTwasthesecondjurisdictiontosignontothe newfundingagreement,whichwascelebratedbythe branchasawinthatwoulddeliveradditional investmentinpublicschools.TheACTwentonto becometheonlyjurisdictionthatmeetstheminimum thresholdoffundingforpublicschoolsasdefinedby theGonskireport-alowbar,butonewe’veproudly cleared.

Gonski’scommitmentthat‘noschoolwouldloseadollarof funding’meantthattheGillardgovernmentenshrinedinlaw fundingarrangementsthatwouldseenon-governmentschools overfunded,whilepublicschoolslanguishedfarbelowthe acceptableresourcingstandardthatGonskiprescribed.

Tomakemattersworse,theelectionofTonyAbbottinSeptember of2013usheredinalmostadecadeofconservativegovernments andtheirrepeatedattempts-somesuccessful-todamagepublic education,renegeonthegainspromisedbyGonski,diminish workers’rightsandweakenunions.

Whilethefederalstruggleforpubliceducationragedon,theACT branchfocusedeffortsoneverydayissuesofitsmembership.

SchoolAssistantsRock!

Schoolassistantmembershipgrewwiththebranch’sdecisionto specificallyconsolidateandgrowthiscohortandtheappointment ofThereseTonnaastheinauguralschoolassistantorganiser.The 2013enterpriseagreementwonschoolassistantsbetter conditions,astheACTgovernmentcommittedtorecognising classificationsandsalaryincrements,developingcareer pathways,providingforplanningandpreparationtime,and grantingbackpayofspecialeducationandfirstaidallowances.

Issuesaffectingschoolassistantslikeroleclarity,safetyatwork, andthedemandstoperformcomplexandnecessarytasks withoutfairremunerationwouldcontinuetobepursued throughoutthedecade.Thewinsachievedforschoolassistants werebuiltonafoundationofgrowingsolidarityacrossstaffin schools.AEUteachermembersstoodinsolidarityalongsidetheir schoolassistantcomrades–acknowledgingtheireffortsinsubbranchmeetings,hostingappreciationevents,andlaterinthe decade,proudlywearing‘SchoolAssistantsRock!’AEUshirtsto work.

TheAEUofficedeployeditsindustrial experts,ledbyJacquiAgius(later,the ACT’sfirstfemaleworksafety commissioner)andPatrickJudge,future ACTbranchsecretary.Anoccupational violencepolicyandamanagementplan werewrittenbyAEUstaffandeducation directorateexecutivesin2017,which markedthefirsttimeoccupationalviolence wasdefined,andthusthefirsttimethat educationworkershadclearcommunication thatitwasneveracceptable.

TheACT Teacher 1986

Since‘Rambo’there seemstohavebeen aspateofstudentattacksonteachers.

Thisisamatterofgreat concern.Arelatedconcernisthat,inseveral instances,theteachers involvedhavebeenadvisedbyschooladministratorsto ‘forgetit’,to‘donothing’,and,inatleastonecase,to ‘notcallFederation’. Membersarestronglyadvisedto: -fileawrittenreport -haveamedicalcheckifthereistheslightest possibilityofinjury -contacttheFederationOfficetocheckthat allyourrightsarebeingprotected.

OccupationalViolence

Theunion’ssolidarityprovescrucial whentheAEUtakesonrisingratesof violenceagainststaffinschools. Occupationalviolence-socommonit becomesreferredtosimplyas‘OV’isaproblemsocomplexitdemands strategic,sustainedandmulti-faceted responsesledlargelybytheunion.

TheACTgovernmentcommissionedtwo independentreviews-onein2015onhow studentswithcomplexneedsandchallenging behaviourweresupportedinschoolsacross theACT,andanotherin2017aboutthe growingprevalenceandmanagementof violenceagainstschoolstaff.

Thelatterfoundthattherewasnosystematic approachtoaddressriskstoworkersin schools:inshort,therewasnoplantokeep AEUmemberssafe.

TheAEUofficedeployeditsindustrialexperts, ledbyJacquiAgius(later,theACT’sfirstfemale worksafetycommissioner)andPatrickJudge, futureACTbranchsecretary.Anoccupational violencepolicyandamanagementplanwere writtenbyAEUstaffandeducationdirectorate executivesin2017,whichmarkedthefirsttime occupationalviolencewasdefined,andthus thefirsttimethateducationworkershadclear communicationthatitwasneveracceptable.

SarahWarrensaidintheTerm42017edition ofACTEducator:

“Ourbranchistrailblazingchangeon occupationalviolence.Violenceinour workplacedoesnotexistinabubble.Itis informedbybroaderattitudesandideas aboutwhatisacceptable.Whenour studentswitnessviolencetowardswomen, itbecomesnormalised.Asunionistsand educatorswecanbegintobreakthat cycle.”

TheAEUknewthereweredelicateandtense issuesatplayinsolvingtheoccupational violenceepidemic.

Whiletheunionneededtopushforafocus onworkersafetywhichhadbeensorelyunder prioritised,thesourceofrisktoworkerswere students–childrenwhoseliveshadbeen affectedbypoverty,instability,violenceand trauma.Teachersknewthisintimately,and knewthattheonlywaytochangethesituation wastofightforthosechildrenevenharder.

RogerAmeywroteintheTerm32017edition oftheACTEducatorthatteachersworkedfar beyondtheexpectationsoftheirjobtohelp kidsinneed,despitetheirschool’sefficacy beingreducedviaNAPLANtocrudemetrics. Ameysaidthatteachershe’dworkedwith, “Ensurethekidsaresafeandwell:getting themsomewheresafetolive,feedingthem, nurturingthem,ensuringtheygetthe medicalattentiontheyneed,bearingthe bruntofthebehaviourthesekidsexpress asaresultofthetraumastheyexperience. Theseteachersarehighlysuccessful.Surely keepingakidaliveandsafeismorevaluable thananygradeornumber?”

WhileAEUmemberskepttheirstudents‘alive andsafe’,in2018theiremployerwasalleged bytheACTworksafetyregulatortohavefailed tocomplywithitsdutyofcaretoensure workerhealthandsafety.Thisledtothelargest enforceableundertaking(inmonetaryvalue) evermadeinAustralianhistory.

Whileregulatoryactionofthistypeusually seesanemployerdirectthousandsofdollars towardsimprovingtheirworksafetyprocesses, WorkSafe’sactionforcedtheACTGovernment tocommitmorethan$10milliontokeeping educatorssafe.

Theenforceableundertakingwasbasedon theexperiencesofAEUmemberswhichwere presentedtotheeducationdirectorate’s directorgeneral,theeducationministerand toWorkSafe.

OfficestaffatthetimerememberJacquiAgius compilinga200-pageaffidavitwhich chronicledsignificantphysicaland psychologicalinjuriessustainedbyone member,whosecouragetostandupandtalk aboutherexperiencemeantthatothersmight notfacethesamefate.

ThenewprominenceofworksafetyforAEU membersbroughtwithitaspikeincallsfor assistancewithworkerscompensationcases. Over2017,thebranchtookonanincreased levelofadvocacyforinjuredworkers,leading tomillionsofdollarsincompensationbeing wonformembersoverthefollowingyears. Asaresultofthebranch’sadvocacyforinjured workers,then-industrialofficerPatrickJudge wasappointedtothecommitteethatoversees theACT’spublicsectorworkers’compensation fund,apositionthathasbeenheldbyanAEU membereversince.

Thefightforsafeworkplacescontinues.The AEUmadeasubmissionin2021arguingthat teachingqualityreliedlargelyon socioeconomicfactorscompletelyoutofa school’scontrol,sayingthattheunionoffice wascalledtoassistinsituationswhere ‘studentsweredisengagedfromlearningand theirbehaviourswerecausingarisktostaff healthandsafetybecausetheirfamilieswere strugglingtomakeendsmeet’.

Theunionalsocontinuestoadvocatefor adequatementalhealthservicesandinclusion supporttobeavailableinschools.Formost ofthedecade,theschoolpsychologistsubbranchspoketothedireneedfora1:500 psychologisttostudentratiotobemet-aratio thatremainselusive.

2017

TheAEUACTofficegetsseriousabout addressingoccupationalviolence.

2017

AEUcampaignsforYesvoteinmarriage equalitypostalvote.Yesvoteiscarried nationallywithACTrecordinghighestvote. Legislationischangedtoallowsamesex couplestomarry.

2018

2020s

AEUadvocacyleadstolargestenforceable undertakingevermadeinAustralian historyforcingtheACTgovernmentto commit$10M+tokeepingeducatorssafe.

Newfour-yearEAprovides12.58%pay increase,makingACTteachersthebest paidinthecountryfrombeingthelowest paidin2010.

2018-2019

ACTgovernmentChromebookrollout.All publicsecondaryschoolstudentsreceivea freedevice.

2019

StillnofundingtoensureallACT publicschoolshaveadequateheating andcooling. ACTgetsatram.Stage1fromGungahlinto thecitycosts$675M.Publicschoolstudent voicesusedfortramannouncements.

Photos Above:ACTEducatorTerm42017.UnionmembersattendMarriageEqualityrallyinSydney. Below:Canberralightrail.Sourcehttps://torchmedia.com.au/transit-media/canberra-light-rail/

Statement on safety and respect

The AEU is committed to: fostering the goodwill and trust necessary to protect the rights of all individuals promoting mutual respect, understanding and cooperation as the basis of interaction among all participants supporting participants’ right to fully express their democratic privilege to participate in AEU meetings, forums and events, free of all forms of harassment, including sexual harassment and racism.

The AEU will neither condone nor tolerate behaviour that undermines the dignity or self-esteem of individuals or the integrity of relationships. All members must feel safe to express their own views, and elected representatives must be empowered to express the views of the members they represent.

In the first instance, concerns are to be reported to: the chair of the meeting; or the AEU organiser attending the meeting If unresolved, the AEU ACT Branch office should be contacted for support on (02) 6272 7900 or via aeuact@aeuact.org.au.

Authorised by Patrick Judge, Branch Secretary, AEU ACT Branch

Covid-19pandemic

TheCovid-19pandemicimpactedeveryaspect ofmembers’livesfromMarch2020onwards. Schoolstaff,parentsandstudentswerethrown intoaquicklychanginglandscape:therewere onlysixdaysbetweenannouncementsfrom theACTchiefministerthatschoolswouldnot needtoclose,toallschoolsbeingshutto students.Teachershadtotransformtheirentire learningprogramstobesuitabletoonline, remotedelivery.

Measuresweretakenasquicklyaspossiblefor studentsdisadvantagedbythesedecisions–Chromebooklaptopsweredelivered,families weregrantedinternetaccessiftheydidnot haveit,andseveralschoolsremainedopen as‘hubs’forvulnerablestudentsandforthose whoseparentswereessentialworkers. Whileschoolsremainedclosedtomost students,theAEUworkedharderthanever toassurethesafetyofmembers.Membership numbersincreasedquicklyastheunionissued advicethatmembersshouldmaketheirown decisionsabouttheirpersonalsafety,andthey couldchoosetoeitherworkfromschoolor workfromhome.

Theunion’spositionwasclear.Memberswere tohavethesameprotectionsasotherworkers who,forthemostpart,hadbeendirectedto workfromhome.Therapidmembership growthreflectedtheunderstandingthatthe unionwouldfightformembers’safety.The ACTgovernmentsupportedtheunion’s position,enablingstafftoworkfromhome.

Asstudentsbegantoreturntoschoolsbranch councilplayedacrucialroleinmakingsure everymemberwasfamiliarandcomfortable withtheeducationdirectorate’splansfor dealingwithcontinuingoutbreaks.Intesting times,itwasclearthatunionsolidarity, democracyandcollectiveactionwerethe strongestfoundationsforeveryone’swellbeing.

lefthome,socialdistancingattheshops, isolatinginyourhomeifyoutestedpositive, closedinterstateandinternationalborders, andusingZoomforeverythingfromtrivia nightstofunerals.

Theearly2020smayhaveforeverchanged schooleducation.TheCovid-19pandemic lockeddownallofAustraliaforperiodsoftime through2020andforsomethiscontinuedinto 2021.‘Pivoting’becameabuzzword.Teachers pivotedtoremotelearningasgovernments soughttoconvincethecommunitythat continuityoflearningwouldbemaintained.

Teachersdemonstratedamazingingenuity, resilienceandresponsivenesstocommunity pressure,butittookitstoll.Teachersgotsick too.Workloadspileduponthosestillstanding. Schoolsreopenedamidsafetyconcernsover theeffectivenessofprotectivemeasuresto stopthevirusspreading,cleaningroutines, vaccinationsandtheadequacyofagingschool infrastructuretoproviderecommended standardsofventilation.

TheAEUbecameinvolvedinensuringstudents andteachershadaccesstorapidantigentests. RATswereprovidedfreetoschoolstudentsin thehopethatthesewouldkeepthosewith Covid-19athome.

Parents,whoseappreciationofteachershad skyrocketedduringperiodsoflockdown, maintainedtheirheightenedexpectations ofteachersandschoolswhenwereturned toface-to-faceteaching.Lockdownshad createdunreasonableexpectationsfor teacherstoalwaysbeon-calltoparents,which addedpressuretoanalreadystretchedand stressedworkforce.

TheACTwasthrownintoasecondlockdown inAugustof2021,followingaCovid-19 outbreakintheACT.Bythen,AEUmembers werereadyforwhatwascoming,whichwould endupbeinganothertwomonthsinlockdown. Lockdownmeantwearingamaskwhenyou

Thepandemicchangedourstudents.AEU membersreportedincreasedchallenging studentbehavioursafterschoolsreturned followinglockdowns.Earlyyearsteachersand thoseatkeytransitionpointsintohighschool andcollegereportedalackofpreparedness amongstudents,particularlywiththesocial skillsneededtonavigatebeingamongpeers. Justasdemandformentalhealthandother supportsforstudentshitnewpeaks,supply ofqualifiedstaffwassorelylacking. continuedfromp.71

2020

Covid-19pandemic. Schoolsshutdown andteachingmovesto‘remotelearning’.

2021

Teachershortagehitshardincombination withcontinuingimpactfromCovid-19 pandemic.

AEUdemandsformationofateacher shortagetaskforce.

2021

BrittanyHigginsgivespowerfulspeechat March4JusticerallyatParliamentHouse. PrimeMinisterScottMorrisondeclaresit“a triumphofdemocracy”that,“Notfarfrom here,suchmarches,evennowarebeingmet withbullets,butnothereinthiscountry.”

2022

ACTBranchreturnstotwofulltimepaid seniorofficers:branchpresidentandbranch secretary.From2001-2021branchpresident isanhonoraryposition.

ACTbranchmovestocurrentlocation inKingston. Newofficesprovidemore spaciousfacilitiesandspaceforholding meetingsandeventsonsite.

2022

Inflationmorethan6%afterextended lowinflationaryperiod.

Photo:©LukeStephenson2021.ABCNews.Brittany HigginsspeakstoMarch4Justicerally,Canberra.

Cartoons:TheACTTeacher1983.

Staffingshortages

Withstaffingshortages,newworksafety challengesemerged.In2022,guidedbyAEU organiser,SeanvanderHeide,andadvised byanindustrialteamnowexpertinworksafety matters,theactionsofAEUmembersatthe Calwellhighschoolsub-branchledtothefirst everissuingofaprohibitionnoticetoanACT publicschoolforsafetyissuescausedby understaffing.

Whilethecircumstanceswerechallengingand, insomecases,traumaticforAEUmembersat thesite,theiractionsgainednational prominencewithvanderHeideandACT branchsecretary,PatrickJudge,beinginvited bytheACTUtopresentontheirworktothe inauguralACTUpsychosocialsafety conference.

WhiletheCovid-19pandemicundoubtedly hadanimpactonschooling,itisincorrectto sayitwasthecatalystfortheemergenceof thecurrentchallengesfacingtheteaching profession.Thepandemicunmaskedafrightful under-preparednessofeducationauthorities throughoutthecountryregardingalooming criticalshortageofteachers.

Thelastmajorandcoordinatedrecruitment ofteachersoccurredinthe1970swith commonwealthscholarshipsandbonded placesofferedtothosewhotookupteaching degrees.Itworked,arguablytoowell,as Australianstatesandterritoriestookadvantage ofanoversupplyofteachers.

Memberswhospentyearsincasualworkoron contractswillrecallthesetimes,whenwinning apermanentpositionwashighlycompetitive, exceptinthecaseofsomepersistentlyhard tostaffsubjectsandremotelocations.Inthe 2020s,wecanseeclearlythatteaching degreesarenotattractingsufficientstudents tomeettheneedsofagrowingpopulationand ageingteacherworkforce.Thiswasevident wellbeforetheoutbreakoftheCovid-19 pandemic.

ThecrisiswascleartoAEUmembers,butthe employerwouldnotacknowledgeit.Toprove theextentoftheissue,thebranchofficerana surveycompletedby1,800members-byfar thebiggestcollectionofmemberexperiences intheunion’shistory.Itsfindingswere incontrovertible:91%reportedthattheirschool wasnegativelyimpactedbystaffingshortages, and98%ofschoolleaderssaidtheybelieved thatstaffabsenceswereunderminingteachers’ capacitytoconsistentlydeliverhighquality education.

Thesurveyrevealedcatastrophicburnout amongteachersandschoolleaders.AEU memberswroteoftheirheartbreakathaving ‘fallenoutoflovewithteaching’giventheir exhaustionatescalatingworkloads.They describedthemselvesas‘drowning’.

Branchpresident,AngelaBurroughs,saw clearlythatteachersandprincipalsneeded fromtheirunionthecompassionand decisivenessthatwaslackingfromthe employer.Underherleadership,theunion becamecommittedtospeakingdifficulttruths tothecommunityandtheeducation directorate,whileextendingcaretothose memberswhowerefacingalmostunbearable challengesatwork.

Thebranchcalledfortheestablishmentofa teachershortagetaskforce,ajointoperationto jointheunionanddirectorateincollaboration andcooperationtotrytounderstandandsolve theproblem.Throughthetaskforce,AEU representativessharedtheirexperienceand knowledgeofwhatschoolsweregoing through:dailycollapsedandsplitclasseswhen staffabsencescouldnotbefilledbyrelief teachers,andacompletelackofsystem knowledgeofitsownworkforce.

Educationdirectorateexecutivesengagedwith thetaskforceingoodfaithtoo,supplyingthe unionwithinformationregardingthenatureand extentofstaffingshortages,andcollaborating withtheAEUondevisingshort-andlong-term mitigationstrategies.

continuesp.80

Thesurveyrevealedcatastrophicburnout amongteachersandschoolleaders.AEU memberswroteoftheirheartbreakathaving ‘fallenoutoflovewithteaching’giventheir exhaustionatescalatingworkloads.They describedthemselvesas‘drowning’.

Clippingandcartoon:TheACTTeacher1980.

2023enterprisebargaining

In2023enterprisebargainingtookplacefor threeagreementscoveringteachers,CIT educatorsandschoolsupportstaffagainst abackdropofongoingstaffingshortagesand unsustainableworkloads.Addedtothis,cost oflivingpressureshadbeguntosqueeze,with interestratesandinflationrisingtolevelsnot beforeexperiencedbyyoungermembers.

TheACTgovernmentapproachedbargaining withaclearagendaaimedatprovidingthe mostgenerouspayrisestolowerpaidworkers, whohaddisproportionatelysufferedthebrunt oftheeconomicdownshift.Thiswasa challengetoourunion.Theunionhadclaimed foraflatpercentageincreasetowages,and AEUmemberswereinspiredbyindustrial actiontakenbyNSWteachers,whosepayand conditionshadslippedunderasuccessionof conservativegovernments.Despiteahighqualityandlong-runningcampaign,our comradesinNSWhadstruggledtobreak throughtheiremployer’sstonewalling.

ItbecameclearthattheACTbranchhadto approachnegotiationscreatively.Theunion’s challengewastoachievehigherpayincreases forteachersandschoolleadersbychanging theincrementalsalarystructure,withinthe confinesofanACTgovernmentbargaining policythatthecombinedforcesofallACT publicsectorunionshadnotbeenableto break.

Theresultingdealwasextraordinary. Bargainingfromthepositionofalreadybeing thenation’sbest-paidteachers,theACT agreementsignificantlyincreasedearly-and mid-careerpay.Someearlycareer classificationsreceivedthe7.5%payincreases thathadbeensought,whiletop-of-the-scale teacherswereprojectedtobepaidnearly $10,000ayearmorethantheirnearest interstatecounterpartsbytheendof2025. Perhapsmostimportantlyitcamewith improvementstoconditions,additionalstaffing forschoolsandwithoutanycutstoschoolor directoratebudgets.

Theagreement’sinfluencewasfeltimmediately outsideoftheACT.AnewlyelectedNSW Laborgovernmentagreedtoatwo-yeardeal withNSWteacherskeepingpacewiththeACT.

WhilethedealcontinuedtopositionACT teachersasthebestpaidteachersinthe country,itwaslocallydivisive,with experiencedandexecutiveteachersreceiving lowerpercentageincreases(buthighertakehomepayincreases)thanthoseinearly-to mid-careerstages,asaresultofthe government’sbargainingpolicy.

CITmembersactivelyengagedinabargaining campaignatatimewhentheCITexecutive wasbeinginvestigatedbytheACTIntegrity Commission.Allegationsofcorruptconduct concernedtheawardingoflargecontractsto a‘complexityandsystemsthinker’whose credentialsincludedconqueringMount Everest.Avigorousbargainingcampaignwas inevitable,andCITmembersunitedbehindit, votingtotakeindustrialactionforthefirsttime indecades.Unprecedentedpayincreasesfor CITeducatorswereachievedbeforeanyaction becamenecessary.Forthefirsttime,CIT membersreceivedhigherpaythanthecore payoffernegotiatedforallACTpublicsector workers.

Schoolassistantmembersalsowonsignificant gainsinpayandallowances,andstrengthened conditions,particularlyaroundleave.TheAEU successfullynegotiatedtheremovalofthe schoolassistant‘competencybarrier’, deliveringautomaticsalaryprogressionfor hundredsofworkers.

Allmembersbenefitedfromotherconditions aimedatprovidingacompetitiveadvantage toemploymentintheACT.

Birthleaveincreasedfrom18weeksto24 weeks,andsuperannuationbecamepayable upto104weeksonpaidorunpaidparental leave.Newandexpandedaccessto reproductiveleave,genderaffirmationleave, culturalleaveanddomesticandfamilyviolence leavecementedtheACTasthemost progressiveplaceforpublicserviceworkersin Australia.

Whilemuchofourhistoryisrightfullytold throughthenavigationofoutcomesinpay andconditions,AEUmembershipismuch morethanthat.Itisaboutsolidarityandthe powerofwhatwecanachievetogether. We arealways,strongertogether.

Unionastruth-teller

Branchpresident,AngelaBurroughs,identified throughthechallengesofhertenurethatthe unionneededtostepupwithcouragetotell thetruthabouttheissuesfacingourschools. Herleadershiphasseenthebranchtake nation-leadingactionontheteachershortage andengageprofessionallyandwithnuance intoreviewsofourteachingpractices. Thebranchhasengagedwithcareand strengthtodefenditsmembers:tofreeup principalstobeleadersamongteachers, tobringthejoybacktoteaching,andto makesureeverysinglememberissafeatwork. Wherenecessary,Angelaandbranchsecretary PatrickJudgehavetoldthemembers’truth, evenwhenitisinconvenientoruncomfortable. Theyhavemadecleartheunion’sexpectation thatAEUmembersberespectedand supported.

Whilemuchofourhistoryisrightfullytold throughthenavigationofoutcomesinpay andconditions,AEUmembershipismuch morethanthat.Itisaboutsolidarityandthe powerofwhatwecanachievetogether. Wearealways,strongertogether.

2023

Creativeapproachtoenterprise bargainingseesAEUachievelandmark dealforteachers,CITeducatorsand schoolassistants.

SustainableWorkloadManagement Committeeisformed.

2023

50,000studentsattend90ACTpublicschools.

2023

AEUcampaignsforayesvoteinthereferendum onanIndigenousVoicetoparliament. ACTistheonlyjurisdictiontoreturnayesvote.

2024

PopulationofACT478,000.

TramtoWodenisanelectionissue. Stillnofundingtoensureall publicschoolshaveadequate heating,coolingandtoilets.

2024

Teachershortagesareongoing andhavereachedcriticallevels. Someschoolsadjusttimetables providing‘minimalsupervision’ afternoonstoallowavailablestafftime forplanningandpreparation. Workloadcontinuestobethegreatest pressureforstaff.

Photos

Left:©JessWhaler2023.LardilandWorimi womanAlexLeon,AEUACT’sFirstNations CoordinatoratWalkforYesevent,Canberra. Oppositepage:BethCraddypresentingat AEUAboriginalandTorresStraitIslander EducationSymposium2010.

FirstNations

ANGELABURROUGHS

ThefirstreferencetoAboriginal educationinourunionrecordsappears in1982:aninterviewwithJohnBudby, thechairoftheCommonwealth DepartmentofEducation’sNational AboriginalEducationCommittee.

Inresponsetoaquestionontherole thatteachers’unionshaveplayedin improvingAboriginaleducation,Budby says,‘Inthepasttherehasn’tbeen muchthatcouldbereadilyidentifiable intermsofteachers’unionworkin improvingAboriginaleducation. However,overthelast18monthsorso considerablestepshavebeenmade.’

LaterthatyearCliveHaggar,whosubsequently becomestheACTTF’slongestservingsenior officer,reportsontheAustralianTeachers Federation’sadoptionofanAboriginal educationpolicyanditsrequestthatall branchesformAboriginaleducation committees.

AnACTAboriginaleducationcommitteeis formedtodevelopacampaignthatconsiders:

a)invitationstoaboriginal(sic)speakers toaddressFederation

b)developmentofmaterialsfor publicationintheACTTeacher

c)theacquisitionofresourcesforuse byACTschoolsandcolleges

d)deputationstotheMinisterfor Education

e)considerationofwaysofpushingfor theintroductionofaboriginal(sic)study coursesforACTschoolsandcolleges.

RegulararticlesonAboriginaleducation subsequentlyappeartheunion’spublications, includingcelebrationsofNAIDOCweekand profilesonwinnersoftheAEUreconciliation awardintroducedin2008.

In2003,branchcouncilendorsesaproposalto adoptthepracticeofacknowledgingCountry atallformalmeetingsoftheAEU.

BethCraddyisastalwartofourunion movementandafiercedefenderof workers’rights.AsidefromNgunnawal Elders,BethCraddyisthemostsenior leaderinIndigenouseducationinour system.Sheheadsupthedirectorate’s AboriginalandTorresStraitIslander educationsection,apositionshehas heldsince2013.

BethcommencedteachinginCanberrain 1981.Ina2024interviewshesaysthat‘the inclusionofAboriginalandTorresStrait Islanderperspectivesinclassroomswasnota thingintheearly1980s.Thefewteachingand learningresourcesthatdidexistwere,byand large,writtenbynon-Indigenouspeopleand

weremostlypatronisingandtokenistic,and portrayedFirstNationspeopleasprimitive peopleofthepast.’

Beth’sviewisborneoutbytheimages associatedwiththeunion’sfirstarticle promotingtake-upofanewlyproduced learningresourceforteachers:Aboriginal StudiesKit-AboriginesoftheCanberra Region.

Bythelate1990s,BethbecametheACT representativeontheAEU’sNationalAboriginal andTorresStraitIslanderEducation Committee,nowYalukitYulendj.Shedescribes theexperienceasopeninghereyestothe poweroftheunionmovementtobringabout positivechange.‘Itwassoempoweringto collaborateandcommunicatewithlikeminded peopleandfromthismomentIbegan developinganetworkofamazingandinspiring activists.’

SincethattimeBethhasmentoredand encouragedAboriginalmemberstogetmore involvedintheunion.Bethiswellawareofthe opportunitiesthatmaycomefrombeingactive inourunion.ShetookontheroleofAEU FederalAboriginalEducationOfficerin2010.

BethhasensuredthattheACTisalwayswell representedonYalukitYulendj.Patrick

Chapman,VickiLucas,ZuzetteFahey,Bek Waddell,CatherineLawandAlexLeonare amongthestrongandpassionateAboriginal activiststohaverepresentedtheACTon YalukitYulendjandotherfederalAEU committees.

PatisnowadeputydirectorofAboriginaland TorresStraitIslanderEducationandVickiisa schoolprincipal.Zuzettewasawardedlife membershipforherservicestoYalukitYulendj andisnowsupportingAboriginalandTorres StraitIslanderfamiliesinaroleintheACT criminaljusticesystem.Bekcontinuestobe anactivememberofBranchCouncilandhas securedschoolleadershippositions.Catherine isthedirectorofYurauna,CIT’sAboriginaland TorresStraitIslanderEducationCentreof Excellence.AlexwastheformerACTVoice campaigncoordinatorandourbranch’s inauguralFirstNationsadvocate.

Itispleasingtothinkthatsupportand empowermentfromtheunionmayhave contributedtothecareeropportunitiesour activistshavepursued.Itisalsoheartening toreflectontheinfluenceourAboriginaland TorresStraitIslandermembershavebrought tobearonourunion’soperations.The establishmentofthedesignatedposition ofFirstNationsadvocateisacaseinpoint.

Photo:ACTgovernmentAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandersecondaryscholarshipawards2021. Atleft:MinisterYvetteBerry.Atright:BethCraddy.

ANGELABURROUGHS

Currentprincipals

It’snocoincidencethatcelebratedschoolleadersare AEUmembers.Theveryvaluesthatmakeforeffective andcourageousleadershiparethosethatareinherent tounionists.LeadershiptrajectoriesintheACTpublic schoolsystemoftenintersectandoverlapwithhaving servedorledtheAEUACTBranch.

It’salsonocoincidencethatschoolleaderswhotakeonthe challengeoftransformingtheirschoolstoembedculturalintegrity inAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderknowledgesarepeople whohavehonedtheirabilitiesintheACTBranchoffice.Leading withculturalintegritymeansputtingrespectforothersinto everythingyoudo.Itmeanstakingrelationships,justiceand collectiveactionseriously.Itmeansleadershipasservice.

ThejourneysofLanaRead,PeterKentandAnnamariaZuffo arenotthoseoflonecrusaders,butofdedicatedunionistswho understandthatlastingchangecomesthroughsolidarityand collectiveaction.Intheirworkweseerepresentativesofthe courage,commitmentandintegritythatcharacteriseAEU members.Theirstoriesremindusthatthepathtoreconciliation, educationalexcellenceandsocialjusticeispavedbythe collectiveeffortsofdedicatededucators,backedbythestrength oftheirunion.

LanaRead

LanaReadisaproudNgunnawalwoman, andtheprincipalofJervisBayschool-a schoolthatisuniqueintheACT,with98% Indigenousstudentsin2024.Lana’s leadership,ofherschool,andoftheunion asAEUACTbranchpresident2013-2016, isgroundedintheknowledgethatauthentic changecomesfromcollectiveeffort.

Lana’sfocusonupskillingeducatorsinintercultural responsivenessandembeddingAboriginalculture intothecurriculumhasmadeJervisBayschoolan inclusivecommunityforalllearners.Herinitiatives toconnectwithlocalEldersandintegrateCountry asTeacherintolearningprogramsrelyonempathy, respectandacommitmenttoFirstNationsfutures.

Asapassionateteacherandsupporterofpubliceducation,Lana remindsusthataspubliceducatorswecarrythehopesand dreamsofthemajorityofchildrenandfamiliesinoursociety. Weshouldberightlyproudofourcollectivededicationtoequity, excellenceandopportunityforourstudents.

Photo:LanaRead

PeterKent

PeterKent,principalofBirrigaioutdoor schoolandformerAEUACTbranch vice-president,carriesforwardthe union'scommitmenttoreconciliation. Hehasdevelopedaward-winningOn CountrylearningexperiencesatBirrigai thatarecherishedbyeveryschoolin thesystem.

Peter’sworkinrevivingculturalburning practicesintheACTisnotjustabout preservingIndigenousknowledge,it'sabout reimagininghowschoolscanbecatalystsfor community-widechange.Peterpersonally modelsBirrigai’sethosineveryinteraction. Whenfacedwithobstacleshefindspaths forwardbylisteningdeeply.

Thisworkisoftenchallenging,andmuchofit occursbehindthescenes,butthesuccess ofBirrigaiistestamenttoPeter’sgenuine partnershipwithNgunnawalandother Aboriginalpeople,andhisdeterminationto realisethatpartnershipineducation.Cultural Integrity,likeunionism,thriveswhenwework respectfullytogether.

AnnamariaZuffo

AsfoundingprincipalofThrosby school,AnnamariaZuffohasputher commitmenttoinclusionandsocial justiceintotheverydesignofthe schoolanditsteaching.

VisitorstoThrosbyaregreetedbyasignthat spellsout‘Yuma’-helloandwelcomein Ngunnawallanguage.Everyclasscraftstheir ownspecialAcknowledgementofCountryso thatstudentscandevelopandexpresstheir ownconnectiontoNgunnawalland.

AnnamariawasAEUACTbranchpresident from2005to2008.Herjourneyismarkedby afiercecommitmenttosocialjusticeanda deepwellofempathy.Asbranchpresident, sheledtheunionthroughindustrialactionand ensuredthattheprofessionalvoiceofteachers wasrespected.

Photos

Left:PeterKentandcolleagues,AEUACT publiceducationawardsdinner2024. Above:AnnamariaZuffo. Imageright:PagefromTheACTTeacher1993.

Photo:GettyImages.1stAppleMacintosh128Kcomputer,released24January1984. Cartoonsandclippings:TheACTTeacher1985.

Oldguard

ROGERAMEY

IhavebeenaproudAEUmemberfor myentirecareer;along-standingmember ofbranchcouncil;thebranch’slongest servingvice-presidentandamember ofbranchexecutivefor25years.

Ihavebeenacommittedunionistsincemydaysofstudent activism.I’vebeenfueledbyamotivationtoimprovetheworking conditionsofteachersintheprofessiontodayandthosetocome infuturegenerations.IhavebeentoldthatwhenIstandtospeak, peoplearewillingtolisten-perhapsthatisaperkofbeingpartof theoldguardwithknowledgetopasson.

Whenourunionwasestablished,wewereverymuchagrassroots organisation.Actionwastakenforteachers,byteachers.Over time,somepeoplecametoseetheunionasa‘feeforservice’ tobeusedwhenanindividualneedshelp,ratherthanacollective thatrunsonactivememberparticipationtokeepitvibrantand strong.

Inmyview,thisattitudesomewhathinderedourpotential effectivenessduetoahigherrelianceonunionofficers.Ithas beengratifyingtoseethatoverthelast15to20yearsthe AEUhasbecomefocusedoncemoreonanorganisingmodel, empoweringthemembershipatasub-branchlevel.

There’sevidenceofthiswhenweseemembersgainingthe confidencetostandupfortheirrightsintheworkplaceandfor publiceducation.Membersthemselvescanadvocatefortheir employmentconditions,andforbetterresourcinginschools toallowteacherstobecomemoreeffectivewithabroaderrange ofstudents.Theyalsounderstandthatthesetwocausesare deeplyrelated.

Itisgratifyingtoseethewaveofneweducatorswhoare committedunionists,determinedtoprotectthehard-won gainsthatcansoeasilybeeroded,andcontinuetoagitate forimprovementsthatbenefitourprofessionandoutcomes forpubliceducation.

OSCARJOLLY

Newguard

Unionismallowsustotakewhatweknowisrightinto acollectiveofpeople,hearfromothersontheirviews, andworktogethertodevelopacollectiveaim,strategy, andpathwaytoactuallymakethatchange.

Unionismformeisfinallynotfeelinglikeyouarejustshoutinginto thewind.Wealllovetotalkoverabeerabouttheworld'sissues, chatinourstaffroomaboutwhatneedstobefixedinour professions,andpostourviewsonlineaboutimportantissues. However,asahistoryteacher,itdoesn’ttakemuchlookinginto thepasttoseethatnothinghaseverbeenwonbymerelyhaving therightposition.

Asyougetmoreinvolvedinunionwork,youunderstandpower moreclearlythanyoueverhavebefore.Whatmakesleaderstick, whatmakesthemworried.How,whenandwheretoputpressure on,toforcechangeevenwhenthatwasn’tintheiroriginalplans. Andyoufindoutthatnoonepersonwilleverbeabletoputthat pressureneededtomakethatchangeallbythemselves.When you’reapartofanentireunion,united,andworkingtogetherwith otherteacherstostrategicallywinanaim,everygoodideaisone successfulcampaignawayfrombeingareality.

PEARLHARBOUR

IjoinedtheAEUACTandimmediatelybecamepartof asupportivecommunityoffellowunionmemberswho helpedmefindmyfeetbothprofessionallyandsocially.

IarrivedintheACTasacareerchangeteacherwhohadrelocated frominterstate.Iwasamemberofaunionearlyinmycareerand Idefinitelywantedthesupportofaunioncommencinganew careerwhereIdon’tknowthefinerdetailsofmyemployment rights.

Mysuccessinnavigatinganeweducationsystem,thriving inanewcityandmaintainingmypassionforteaching,isdue totheconnectionsandopportunitiesavailablethroughtheAEU community.BeinganAEUmemberhasalsogivenme opportunitiestoattendeventssuchastheAEUwomen’snational conferencewhichbroadenedmyskillsandlifeexperiences. OpportunitiesandsupportfromtheAEUhaveenhancedmy teachingconfidence.

ThereissomuchsupportgiventoneweducatorsbytheAEU. Ihavelearntsomuchbyattendingeventsforneweducators. It’sgreatfornetworkingandbeingabletoshareandlearnfrom eachother’sexperiences.It’salsogreattobeabletoturntothe AEUtogetsupportwhenthingspopupthatI’mnotsureabout.

TAMEEKATHORLEY

AEUmembershipisimportantforneweducators becauseitempowersustomakeinformeddecisions byhavingabetterunderstandingofourrightsand responsibilities.BeinganAEUmemberhashelpedme toconnectwithpassionateeducatorswhoarestriving tomakeschoolsabetterplaceforstudentsandstaff.

IenteredteachingafterstudyingaMastersofprimaryteaching. MyfirstyearofteachingwasfilledwithCovid-19protocolsand staffshortages.Itwasachallengingandisolatingexperiencethat mademequestionmycareerchange.Inthatyear,Iattended someAEUneweducatorevents.Theseeventsbecamevaluable opportunitiestoconnectandupskill.

AhighlightofmymembershipsofarisattendingtheNationalnew educator’sconferencein2023.Thisexperiencemotivatedmeto becomeacouncillor.Iwanttoseeteachingbecomeamorehighly valuedprofessionthatismoresustainableforusall.

BRITTANYHERRINGTON

AEUmembershipisimportantforneweducators asitprovidesuswithanotherprofessionalnetworkto supportusthroughthesometimeschallengingbut rewardingfirstfewyearsofteaching.

Thehighlightsofmymembershiphavedefinitelybeenthenew educatorconferences,inPerthandCanberra.Theseconferences wereareallyexcitingandfunopportunitytoconnectwithother neweducatorsacrossAustralia.Theyleftmefeelinginspired aboutthefutureofourprofession.

Ithinkthemajorchallengesfacingpubliceducationarethe teachershortageandlackofresourcesandsupport,particularly inregionalandremoteareas.Thesetwoissueshavethebiggest impactonourmostvulnerablestudentsandshouldbeatop priorityforanyonewhocaresaboutourkidsandtheirfuture. Theunion’sroleinfixingthiswouldbecontinuingtoadvocatefor teachers,toensurethatteachingisajobpeoplelovetodo.As wellastheirongoingadvocacytoguaranteefairandfullfunding forpublicschoolsacrossthecountry.

Asasub-branchpresidentIamworkingtowardsembedding astrongandsupportivecultureatmyschooltoempowermy colleaguestolookaftereachotherandbetheverybest.Iam mostproudoftheworkI’vedonealongsidemyawesomesubbranchrepstoincreasethepresenceoftheunionatoursite. Ithasdefinitelyhelpedusalltacklechallengesthathavecome upandtoformnewfriendships.

Unionismfeelssonatural,andassomeonewho’s passionateaboutreconciliation,actionandsolidarity withcausesforpositivechange,IfeellikeI’minan organisationwherewecanalllifteachotherup.

I’minmythirdyearofteachingnowandhavetakenupthe dauntingmantleofsub-branchpresident.Mypreviousmentor wasintheroleforadecentamountoftime,andIlearntsomuch fromher.Whileit’sbeenabiglearningcurve,andafairamount morestress,it’sbeensogreattosupporttheteachersaroundme andworkasasub-branchtocareforoneanother.

Photo:Nationalneweducators conference2023hostedbyACT branch.L-RKatieSlater, MaryClareWoodforde,James Meissner,RonicaEvans,Brittany Herrington,AngelaBurroughs, OscarJolly,Rowelanne(Ro) Stubbs,TameekaThorley, IngridBean.

Onethingthatisaffectingoursub-branchmembersisthe workload.Bytheendofthetermyoucanseeitinteachers’faces, thatthey’rejugglingsomanythingsatonce,andsomethingsare boundtogetdroppedsoonerthanlater,whichisburningpeople out.Thenumbersofteachersaredwindlingnow,andthereseems tobeacascadeeffectofworkloadshiftingmoreresponsibility ontoourteachersandschoolleaders.Asasub-branchwe’ve takenactionsinourimplementationplantoreducethisandbuild structuresandscaffoldstoreducetheamountofrepeatedlabour. Asaunionitmayhelptohaveastrategicplantoreduceworkload andshareunderstandingofwaysthisworksacrossourterritory.

Asasub-branchleader,I’mproudofhowI’vedevelopeda rapportwithstaffacrosstheschool.IhopeI’msomeonethat peopletrusttofindsupport,shareanissue,orworkwithtofind solutionsthatsupportallofus.Iwanttofocusonbuilding solidarityandasenseofunionismandleadershipfromunion membersatourschool.

JOSHSMITH

Joy

Aseducators,thereisnothingmore satisfyingthanwhenstudentsgrasp aconcept,ideaorlearningintention. Thesearethemomentsofjoy,the breakthroughmomentswhen everythingisworthit.Thisiswhywe arepartofthisgreatprofession–to makeadifferencetostudents’lives.

Asunionistswefight,webattle,we campaign,wechallenge.Wedothis becausewecareaboutourstudents andwecareaboutpubliceducation. Wedothisbecausewewanttobring thejoybacktoteaching.

Photos Thispageandopposite:AEUACTpubliceducation awardsdinner2023and2024.

PATRICKJUDGE

Ourunion’sinfluence

Earlierthisyear,IwassittinginthehallatBirrigaioutdoorschool withagroupofAEUactivists,bothexperiencedandemerging. Theprincipal,PeterKent,waswelcomingusandsharingsome wisdomaboutunions,activismandtheprofoundrolethatwe haveplayedinmakingpubliceducationbetterforteachersand studentsalike.

Peterreflectedthatourunion’sinfluenceissopervasiveand integratedintooureducationsystemandourlivesthatitcan sometimesbeinvisible.Peter’swordswerebothaninspiration andaprovocation:Isourinfluencethatgreat?Canit,sometimes, beinvisible?ArewemakingthebestofwhattheAEUmembers whocamebeforeushavebuilt?

Inthishistory,wecanseethegreatinfluenceourunionhasbuilt. Ourunionwasfoundedincircumstancesofremarkableadversity. Ithascontinuedtofightandprevailagainstadversityforfive decades.

Ourvictorieshaveoftenbeendecadesinthemaking.Theyhave requiredsacrifice.Attimes,theyhaverequiredourunionandits memberstomaketoughdecisions,tosetasidetheirinterestsas individualsandtobindtogetherinsolidarityforwhatisrightand whatisgood.

Ourunion’scharacterhasnotbeenderivedfromcharismatic leadersorwell-connectedofficials,butbythequalitiesofits membership.Wehavebeenstrongbecauseourmembersare strong,foughtbecauseeducatorsarebrave,beenboldwhen educatorshavebeenbold.Wehavedonewhatisrightbecause ordinarypeople,teachers,schoolassistantsandsupportstaff haveunitedbehindourcause.

Ithasbeenourunion’spresenceatrankandfilelevel,inschools andTAFEworkplaces,thathasmostdefineditsinfluence.Our characterhasbeenbuiltbyandbetweenmembersinour workplaces,oursub-branches,ourbranchcouncil.Ithasbeen thedebateswehavehadbetweenourselves,asaprofession,that haveshapedourunionandoureducationsystem.

Despitethebreadthofourunion’sinfluence,orperhapsbecause ofit,itistruethatourworkcanbeinvisible.Ithasalwaysbeen thetaskofmembersandactiviststobringtheunion’sroleto prominence.Icansaythisfromexperience.Ileftacareerina non-unionisedprofessiontobecomeateacher,andmyfirstdays ofworkinaschoolwerefilledwithtalkofunionmeetings,thenew enterpriseagreementandelectingreps.Noteveryonewasalways satisfiedwithwhatourunionwasachieving,butnearlyeveryone wasamemberandnearlyeveryoneunderstoodtheimportanceof havingtheirsay.

Fewotherindustriescanboastunionrepresentationonourlevels. Thatrepresentationisbuiltbytheprideofmembersandactivists inwhatourunionhasachieved,andourinsistencethat

membershipisafundamentalpartofbeinga publiceducator.Itwillneverstopbeingourjob asunioniststoensurethateveryoneinour workplaceunderstandstheimportanceof beingamemberofourunion.

ThelegacycarvedbyAEUmembersoverthe last50yearsisaninspirationandachallenge tousall.Throughourstrength,oursolidarity andourcommitmenttokeepfighting, educationunionistshavebeentheprimary architectsofthebestpubliceducationsystem inthecountry.Wehaveshapeditsbest features,andfoughtagainstitsworstones.We haveadutytothosewhocamebeforeus,and toourselves,toconfrontthechallengesthat facepubliceducation,articulateavisionof somethingbetterandtokeepfightingforwhat webelieve.

Acknowledgements

Producingthispublicationhasonlybeenpossible throughthegenerosityofmanycurrentandformer AEUmembers.Thesearethepeoplewhogavetheir timetobeinterviewedandsharetheirmemories,with manycontributingarticleswhichappeareitherinthis publicationoronlineontheAEUACT’swebsite.On behalfoftheAEUACT’sformer,currentandfuture members–thankyou.

Ithasbeenhugelyrewardingtoseetheprocessof celebratingtheAEUACT’sfirst50yearsleadtothe renewaloffriendshipsandtheforgingofconnections acrossgenerationsofunionists.

ThankyoutoCliveHaggarforhisearlyworkonthe 50yearhistoryprojectwhichmorphedintothis expandedprojectinvolvingmanycontributors. Thispublicationdrawsonmaterialfromunion artefacts.Thesehavebeenaccessedthroughthe referencecollectionoftheNationalLibraryofAustralia andtheAEUACTbranchrecordsdepositedintheNoel ButlinArchivesCentre,MenziesLibrary,atthe AustralianNationalUniversity.

Withthankstoourpartnersfortheirongoingsupport

Wehaveadutytothosewho camebeforeus,andto ourselves,toconfrontthe challengesthatfacepublic education,articulateavision ofsomethingbetterandto keepfightingforwhatwe believe.

Whilethispublicationdrawsontheworkofmany, twopeoplewhovolunteeredhundredsofhourstothis projectdeservespecialacknowledgement.

IthasbeenCathyRobertson’sunrelentingdriveand determinationthathasseenthisworkcometofruition. Cathyhassingle-handedlygatheredstoriesfromearly members,undertakenmeticulousresearchandscoured therecords,literally,helpingcleanoutastorageunit andarrangeforimportantmaterialstobearchived. FuturegenerationsofmembersoweCathyahugedebt ofgratitude.

Finally,sincerethankstoNatalieMcDonagh,for thedesign,layoutandproductionofthiswork.Her calmness,despitelatechangesandlast-minute requestsforinclusionofadditionalcontent,is remarkable.Natalie’sprofessionalexpertisehas deliveredusaproductthatisavisualfeastandrings truetothecreativity,innovationandoccasional quirkinessoftheAEUACT.

Presidents

2017todate AngelaBurroughs

2013-2016 LanaRead

2009-2012 PhilRasmus

2005-2008 AnnamariaZuffo

2001-2004 JanDay

1996-2000 CliveHaggar

1988-1995 RosemaryRichards

1985-1987 PeterO’Connor

1983-1984 CathyRobertson

1975-1982 KeithLawler

1973-1974 DickLee

Secretaries

2021todate PatrickJudge

2013-2021 GlennFowler

2008-2012 PennyGilmour

2001-2007 CliveHaggar

1996-1999 WarrenLee

1988-1995 CliveHaggar

1987 RosemaryRichards

1986 HelgaMcPhie

1983-1985 JoanCorbett

1982 CathyRobertson

1979-1981 IanAlder

1973-1978 PeterO’Connor

LifeMembers

Jacqueline Agius

Ian Alder

Roger Amey

Janet Anderson

Sue Billington

Andrew Blanckensee

Janelle Day

Margaret Dempster

Audrey Duke Zuzette Fahey

Penny Gilmour

Clive Haggar

Jacqueline Haslem

Moir Holmes

Keith Lawler

Richard Lee

Warren Lee

Kevin Peoples

Ian McPhee

Fiona Macgregor

Rosemary Richards

Bea Thompson

Robin Trinca

ISBN978-0-646-70123-3

©2024AustralianEducationUnionACTBranch. 71LeichhardtStreet,KingstonACT2604

Disclaimer:Pleasenoteeverycarehasbeentaken tochecktheinformationandfactsinthispublication againstavailablerecords.Opinionsexpressedare thoseoftheauthors.

Photo:KatieSlater2023

P 0262727900 E aeuact@aeuact.org.au W aeuact.org.au