Peace proposal put to Premier

By

Dennis Long

Federation has put a comprehensive plan to staff our schools to Premier Morris Iemma.

The union wrote to the Premier on July 24 requesting a meeting "to resolve the dispute about teacher transfers".

Federation noted that this was the third letter from the union. The union had written to the Premier on July 7 and July 14.

The letter requested the meeting "to peacefully resolve the current dispute about teacher transfers".

The union indicated its hope that the compromise proposal for a different mix of staffing appointments in schools would "provide the basis for a negotiated settlement about teacher transfer and other methods of appointing teachers".

"In this way the parties could avoid further industrial disputation about this particular issue," the letter continued.

"In addition, the Federation wishes to work with the State Government to tackle policy development with respect to attracting and retaining teachers in the public education system."

Federation asked the Premier to "positively intervene to settle the dispute" and to give consideration to "the funding and policy development required to staff our schools with sufficient numbers of qualified teachers".

"It is imperative that we work together to ensure the maintenance of teaching and learning of the highest quality in public schools," the letter concluded.

Federation wrote to both Acting Education Minister John Hatzistergos and Director-General Michael Coutts-Trotter advising them that the compromise plan had been put to the Premier.

The Federation plan to staff our schools was outlined to parents and community in a leaflet. More than 550,000 copies were printed in English and in community languages for use by schools. Copies of the leaflets are available on Federation's website.

Dennis Long is the Editor.

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