WA teachers seek federal award

PERTH — WA's State School Teachers Union (SSTU) has been locked in a fierce battle with the Court Liberal government since December 1994. It has conducted strikes and work bans, held mass rallies and has been threatened with deregistration. JULIA PERKINS spoke to SSTU organiser DAVID KELLY for Green Left Weekly. The original demands of the SSTU were for a 20% salary increase with no trade offs, smaller class sizes, incentives for country teachers, input into curriculum change, increase in "duty other than teaching time" for primary school teachers, and maintenance and upgrading of schools. In response the Court government offered a 15% pay increase but only in return for massive trade offs, Kelly explained. "This 15% pay increase offered by the government actually consisted of two sets of 7.5% pay increases, the latter 7.5% not guaranteed until the beginning of 1997 and conditional on the acceptance of all associated changes proposed by the government." As a trade off for its pay offer, the government wanted teachers to do more work in their own time. "It wanted teachers to commence their day 15 minutes before the first class but made no stipulation as to when the day should end. "Staff meetings — which have generally taken place once a month and in the last hour of school (students were dismissed early) plus one hour after school — were to increase to at least two per month. They would only take place after school hours and with no limit on time." In addition "performance management" was to be implemented for everybody in the system, with no extra resources and no extra personnel. This meant that teachers would lose their automatic pay increase which goes with increased time in service. Further, a new transfer process would seriously disadvantage teachers in rural and isolated communities, who do not have access to professional development courses like teachers in Perth. The government made many attempts to reach teachers individually. Teachers have been approached at home by their employers, and even during their holidays. "This was unheard of, industrially, and obviously creates a grave danger for the union. Many members were not familiar with the terminology and the content of the conditions being offered. They were not familiar with current salaries and available conditions or how to interpret the conditions being offered." As a result, the union had to go into the field to educate teachers about their rights and help them interpret offers. The Court government has tried to isolate the teachers. It encouraged parents to do some of the "voluntary work" teachers are expected but refused to do as part of the campaign. "Where certain communities have taken up some of the work, this has played into the hands of the Court government. This is exactly what the Court government wanted — to shift the onus and responsibility of education on to the community." The government bought off administrators through the principals' federation. They were given time off with pay and access to solicitors to negotiate workplace agreements on behalf of schools. "When the Victorian teachers' union applied for a federal award these administrators were flown in to intervene, stating that such an application stalled the workplace agreement process. Two weeks ago when SSTU representatives went to Sydney to apply for federal award coverage these people turned up to intervene yet again." In the last week of third term, teachers were forced to indicate whether they would be taking industrial action (including refusing 'voluntary work'). They had to answer "yes" or "no" and they were given till October 16 to sign what would become "individual common law contracts". The Court government threatened to deregister the SSTU, claiming that it was acting "against the public interest". Some teachers have also been threatened with disciplinary action and the government legislated to give power to director generals to change workers' duty statements at will. "It was because of this legislation that the union moved for application for a federal award. It was the only way that the union could possibly protect its members", said Kelly. On October 19, the SSTU was granted an interim federal award. It was granted on condition that all current industrial action be lifted and the employer not pursue its agenda. Every teacher has also been granted an automatic 5% pay increase for this six-week period. "If workers could have sustained an indefinite strike, this would have been a possible alternative. It might still happen depending on negotiations in the future", according to Kelly. "The federal interim award just gives some temporary relief. It is valid until November 30, which gives the union six weeks to continue negotiations for a full federal award." However, the Court government is proposing new laws to allow the deregistration of any union opting out of the state industrial relations system.