April 22 rally to defend the rights of teachers and other workers

By Dennis Long

Federation is encouraging all members to attend the Your Rights at Work rally in Sydney on April 22.

The rally begins at 11am at Hyde Park and will be followed by a march to the Sydney Cricket Ground where a "Rockin' for Rights" concert will take place.

The rally is being organised by Unions NSW.

April 22 is the last Sunday of the school and TAFE holidays.

Posters advertising the rally have been sent to all Federation Representatives with multiple copies sent to schools in Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle.

Federation hopes that buses will be organised from regional and rural centres. Where members cannot get to Sydney, it is hoped that regional rallies will be organised. Further detail about transport and regional rallies will be provided as it becomes available.

Federation has called on members to join the community protest to defend the right of teachers at work. This call follows the most explicit statements so far from the Howard Government about performance pay and the local hiring and firing of teachers.

On February 21 the Sydney Morning Herald reported Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop favoured a performance based pay scheme combining student-improvement and peer-assessment models in teachers' wage agreements.

The Minister told the National Press Club on February 7: "Principals must be given greater autonomy over their schools. In particular, principals must have power over staffing."

Ms Bishop's remarks formed part of the renewed attack by the Howard Government on the teaching profession. (See stories pages 4-5.)

Teachers are urged to support the April 22 rally in order to:

• defend teacher tenure and transfer rights
• defend collective salary agreements
• defeat the Howard Government.

April 22 poster

Bishop launches performance pay push

Federal education agenda made clear in Minister's speech

Howard and Bishop launch two-pronged attack on teachers

Cautionary tales on performance pay

PM feels the heat in Port Macquarie

Shame file

Two marches for workers' rights

Young NSW workers offered some protections

Sign up your school for enrol to vote week

Wheels on the bus take the message around

Nuclear views sought from Coalition MPs

For further information

February 2007 contents