ENTERPRISE BARGAINING

Enterprise Bargaining negotiations are continuing. Given that the Government has failed to adequately respond to the log of claims, the unions are seeking the assistance of the Industrial Relations Commission to mediate future negotiations.

Discussions are occurring in relation to family leave, a new SSO 6 classification, professional development. The Government's proposal for a new student centered funding model, however, is the focus of significant negotiations. The unions are most concerned that the proposal does not provide adequate work load protections and as such has the potential to have a serious negative impact on the quality of public education.

NATIONAL DECLARATION ON GOALS FOR SCHOOLING FORUM

PSA Councillor Max Hodge recently attended the National Declaration on goals for Schooling forum as the PSA representative.  Max's report follows:

In April this year the Ministerial council for Education Employment Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) agreed to develop a new National Declaration on Goals for Schooling. The development of the new declaration would be overseen by a working group comprised of CEO’s from all education departments, chairs of national curriculum boards and representatives from the National Catholic Education Commission and the Independent Schools Council of Australia.

The working group is receiving input from stakeholders through consultation at national, state and regional levels.

The forum brought together stakeholders who have a South Australian perspective and
took the form of small groups looking at the Adelaide Declaration of National Goals for Schooling in the 21st Century and the draft declaration from the Victorian meeting on 18 July 2008.

All the groups presented their views on the models for collating by DECS.  There will be a follow up meeting to discuss and expand on the groups recommendations.

All states findings will be presented at National Declaration day in Nov/Dec 2008. From this declaration COAG will align the new declaration with new financial agreements to the States in early 2009. Some of the issues discussed included: 

    indigenous students
    improving teacher and school leadership quality
    higher standards in schooling
    greater accountability
    implementing modern world class teaching
    integrated strategies for low socio economic groups
    improved communication with parents

Questions asked by the group included:

What lessons, if any can be learnt from the Adelaide Declaration?
How does it affect the local landscape?
Does it adequately capture what is happening in 2008?
What other goals could be considered?
What issues should be considered to consider the local environment?

Max will continue to represent PSA members in this forum. 

CONSULTATION AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL

The PSA has previously informed members of the establishment of  District Consultative Forums (DCF) to facilitate effective consultation at the District level.  These forums are now in operation in most Districts.

The DCF is a consultative body that provides the opportunity for the District Director and nominated representatives from the Local Leaders Executive and District Leadership Team to consult with the Unions on matters relevant to district operations, for example, district learning plans, provision of professional service support functions from the District Office, establishment of district programs and new resourcing and workload initiatives.

Membership of the DCF  includes the District Director, one nominee from the District Leadership Team, two representatives nominated by the PSA (one district based (PO) and one site based (SSO), two representatives nominated by the AEU (one district based and one site based).

The PSA requested nominations from members to represent the PSA on these forums in April this year.  There are still PSA positions available in some Districts. It is very important to ensure PSA representation on the DCF as the issues discussed are very relevant to the work of PSA members.

SSO and Professional Officer members are encouraged to express their interest in representing PSA members on the DCF.  Where there is more than one nomination for either classification in a District, a ballot will be held.