Teachers’ rights on the line

Teachers' rights at work are on the line in this election, writes MAREE O'HALLORAN.

Unlike its deceptive introduction of WorkChoices, the Federal Government has made it patently clear that it will move to deregulate teachers' working conditions. Federal funding will be linked to:

• so-called "performance" pay for teachers
• individual contracts for teachers
• hire and fire of teachers at the local level
• autonomy for TAFE Institutes.

The introduction of these measures would mean the end of tenure as well as the loss of collective bargaining and award rights.

The level of direct political interference in the curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and reporting will also increase. From the Prime Minister's remarks in January 2004 that public schools were "values free" and "too politically correct" to his closing remarks in the election debate on October 22, John Howard has sought to attack and undermine people's confidence in public education.

Our students are being educated for a world where global interaction will be the norm. They may work in occupations we cannot yet imagine. By contrast, the Prime Minister seems committed to imposing a narrow curriculum and a testing and reporting regime which may limit the aspirations and educational achievement of children as young as six.

The professional role, responsibility and discretion of teachers will be further circumscribed under a re-elected Coalition Government. I do not believe that the professional rights of teachers will be recognised, let along respected.

It is utterly apparent that the Coalition knows no bounds and has no respect for teachers. The calculated and shameless nature of its attacks on teachers was manifest in the beat up and furore on October 19 about a question in the Industrial Technology HSC examination. The question asked students to discuss legislation which affected employees and was set more than 18 months ago by the NSW Board of Studies.

Both Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop and NSW shadow education spokesperson Andrew Stoner questioned the integrity of teachers in general and HSC markers in particular, suggesting students were expected to write and condemn WorkChoices. Neither was the case.

Nevertheless, would it be surprising if WorkChoices was mentioned by the students? The Federal Government has now spent $100 million advertising it (Sydney Morning Herald, October 17, 2007). It is the law. It does affect the lives of students in their own workplaces. This very issue was confirmed by the research commissioned by Federation into TAFE and secondary students at work.

Federal Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey continues to bluster, blunder and slander his way through the portfolio. He has notoriously claimed that young people find it easy to negotiate with bosses on pay and conditions: "The kids are negotiating mobile phone contracts worth literally thousands of dollars a year...yet they can't negotiate a contract?" (AAP, September 27, 2007)

In July when Federation released its report about students at work, Mr Hockey attacked: "It's complete rubbish. It's not founded in any science. It's not founded in any research." (July 3, 2007)

That attack is part of the Government's overall strategy of denial or denunciation when challenged about the growing divide between rich and poor in this nation. The following examples are salient.

On August 30 the Australian Council of Social Services reported that the number of Australians living in poverty rose from 7.6 per cent to 9.9 per cent from 1994 to 2004. The Prime Minister had "difficulty with their measurements".

On September 13 the Sydney University Workplace Research Centre found that workers on Australian Workplace Agreements tended to earn significantly less than those on collective agreements. Mr Hockey said the research was from "former trade union officials who are parading as academics".

On September 19 the 2007 OECD "Education at a Glance" report said Australia had the third lowest proportion of public expenditure on education in the OECD. Australia's proportion of public expenditure on education declined six per cent from 1995 to 2004. The Prime Minister said: "The OECD report is based on old data and therefore is wrong."

The defeat of the Federal Government is an essential, but not sufficient, prerequisite to end the flawed policies of that government.

Federal Labor has capitulated to some of the Federal Government's agenda. For example, the promise to maintain the socio economic status federal funding formula for private schools until at least 2012, retaining some elements of WorkChoices and delaying changes until 2010. However, Labor still has better policies on industrial relations in general and "performance pay" and "job tenure" in particular for teachers. Federation continues to lobby Labor to promise increased federal funding for public schools and TAFE in the coming weeks.

When it comes to public education and rights at work, Federation believes:

1. A change of government is essential.
2. Remember the Senate -- The Greens have superior policies to the major parties.
3. We must keep campaigning after the election.

For further information

October 2007 contents