The newspaper of the NSW Independent Education Union and the NSW/ACT branch of the IEUA (vol 34 #6) September 2014
Print Post: 225007/0002 – ISSN: 0728-4845
AIS dispute resolved p2
Are you being paid correctly? p5
Equal pay gap growing p10
STOP PRESS
Teacher Accreditation Amendment Bill – a mixed bag “For the first time early childhood teachers will be accredited, a move welcomed by the Union as a recognition of their status and professionalism.” John Quessy IEU General Secretary
The NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli has introduced a Bill into the Parliament to amend aspects of teacher accreditation in NSW. The purpose of the Bill is to introduce a number of policy decisions arising from the State Government blueprint Great Teaching Inspired Learning (GTIL). Very little in the proposed legislation is unexpected but the IEU has concerns
about some aspects and will seek clarification of a number of issues. The Bill is yet to be debated in the Lower House and is subject to possible amendment in the Upper House. The Bill requires all teachers to be accredited, including those who were teaching prior to October 2004 but does not address how this will happen beyond a process of ‘recognition’. For the first time early childhood teachers will be accredited (timing unknown at this stage), a move welcomed
by the Union as a recognition of their status and professionalism. We hope that both Federal and State Governments might support this status by providing the funding necessary to see that these members are paid as professionals. At long last some inadequacies of the original legislation (such as extensions to the accreditation and maintenance of accreditation timelines) are addressed. The capacity for teachers to ‘put on hold’ their accreditation while on extended leave is also a feature.
60 years strong In September 1954 the Assistant Masters Association was formed. That date marks the beginning of an evolution that saw the Union expand its membership from a few hundred male teachers in GPS schools to a significant and influential body representing all staff in non-government schools, with 33,000 members and counting in NSW and the ACT. Find out more about how the IEU became your voice over the past 60 years on pages 12 -13.
While there is plenty to support there are a number of disturbing modifications to such things as the revocation of accreditation and at first glace the capacity to appeal unfavourable accreditation judgments seems very weak indeed. A fuller report will be provided in the next edition of Newsmonth and on the website as the Bill makes its way through the Parliament.
Christian bargaining commences
Christian Schools Australia and Christian Education National have issued bargaining notices to member schools. Formal bargaining has commenced. The Union is rejecting the erosion of conditions and seeking salary improvements in line with other sectors.