|
Issue No. 224 | 11 June 2004 |
The Passion For Power The Passion for Power
Interview: The New Democrat Bad Boss: The Ugly Australian Unions: Free Spirits and Slaves Industrial: National Focus History: A Class Act International: Across the Ditch Economics: Home Truths Review: No Time Like Tomorrow Poetry: Silent Note
People Importer Wants Indemnity Desperate Ambos Turn to Copper Victims Dusted in Asbestos Row Support Unit Makes Canberra Debut
The Soapbox The Soapbox The Locker Room Politics
Sick Of This Job Office Junior�s Secrets
Labor Council of NSW |
News Teaching 12 Percent Tougher
But the Carr Government faces ongoing industrial action from public school teachers after the IRC �moderated� its final decision in the landmark pay case because government cried poor.
The IRC conducted inquiries into the changing work values of teachers in both public and Catholic schools, a change that teachers argued justified a 25 per cent pay rise. The IRC awarded just under half that, to be paid over two years. While teachers were disappointed with the quantum, they did take heart from the Commission's findings of substantial changes to the way they per4form their work. In its decisions the Commission accepted arguments that there had been "significant changes in the method of work of teachers". These included: - an over-crowded curriculum, including changes without adequate consultation - a growing number of non-core teaching tasks, including those formerly carried out by the family - the devolution of school management tasks to individual schools and individual teachers - the increasing number of vocational courses teachers are required tot each and the increased trend to include children with disabilities in mainstream classes. The IRC found that these increases in work value had not been recognised in their pay, remarking in the Catholic teachers decision that: "Teachers have been unable to establish their status as professionals in a manner which would enable them to exercise authority and influence in the way normally associated with a profession. "In fact the status of teacher sin Australia is declining ... (and) to attract and retain high quality applicants it is important to enhance the status of the profession." Despite these statements, teacher unions were disappointed with the final decision, the NSW Teachers Federation livid that Catholic counterparts received higher increases for senior teachers, a move they blame on the Carr Government's opposition to their claim.
|
Search All Issues | Latest Issue | Previous Issues | Print Latest Issue |
© 1999-2002 Workers Online |
|