ACT teachers mobilise

By Leigh Hughes

CANBERRA -- On August 11, more than 2000 teachers stopped work to discuss a new enterprise bargaining agreement. At the half-day meeting, attended by 85% of ACT teachers, the Australian Education Union members adopted proposals to improve an education system that has come under constant attack by the ACT Liberal government.

These attacks include breaches of election commitments to fund the education system adequately, staff cuts, increased workloads, regular attacks on the working conditions of teachers and ignorance of the real needs of students.

They demonstrate that the Liberals are not concerned about the welfare of the 70% of students who are in public schools, or the people who teach them.

In the AEU's proposal for the new enterprise bargain, teachers are seeking a 6% pay rise over two years, reduced class sizes, student support services, effective behaviour management programs, disabled student support, participation by teachers and the community in the curriculum, greater job security and other demands.

The government claims these programs, pay increases and improvements must be paid for “within the budget”. This means that extra funds to one area would reduce the funding of other areas. Pay rises are possible, according to education minister Bill Stefaniak, only if some teachers are sacked and the remaining teachers take a greater workload.

The government plans to cut public school funding while deregulating and increasing funds for private schools. In the last budget, private school students received eight times more funding than their public school counterparts.

The union proposes to gather community support for its struggle and to celebrate the benefits of public education. While most of the union's efforts will go into educating and organising workplaces and the community, some industrial action is planned.

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