Staffing Campaign - vodcast

The Federation has produced the latest in a series of vodcasts on this year's major campaigns. The latest features Gary Zadkovich, Senior Vice-President outlining Federation's concerns at the de-regulation of the current state-wide staffing system.

After more than two months of negotiations for a new schools staffing agreement, and while Federation's representatives were attending a further negotiation meeting on the matter, Education Minister John Della Bosca announced sweeping changes to the current staffing system.

In a media release dated February 4, the Minister declared the phasing-out of the service transfer system for classroom teachers and the abolition of expressions of interest mobility for executives and principals.

The Minister is proposing to dismantle a statewide staffing system based on transfers that ensures teacher supply to all schools, especially those that are difficult to staff because of geographical location and other factors that impinge on a school's ability to attract and retain staff. He fails to understand that increasing some schools' capacity to locally select their teachers will actually reduce the capacity of hundreds of other schools to attract and retain qualified teachers.

Importantly, transfers also underpin a teacher's right to permanent employment, as distinct from limited tenure, contract-based employment.

Through an agreement derived from decades of practical experience, the current staffing system balances the needs of teachers, students and parents in school communities across NSW. Our system works effectively and efficiently. That is why Federation is proposing to continue the current staffing agreement.

While open to further negotiations on this matter, Federation remains absolutely committed to protecting teachers' rights at work, and students rights at school to be taught by well paid, suitably qualified teachers whose service is truly valued by their employer and the Government.

Earlier Vodcasts on Federation's overall campaigns for 2008 and Salaries can be found by clicking on the links below

Federation's Major claims for 2008

Federation's salaries claim

For further information

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Last Modified: 26 Feb 2008