The refugee movement is again a force to be reckoned with. Yet we confront bipartisan support for mandatory detention and an unsavoury debate about whether it’s better to export live asylum seekers to Malaysia or Nauru.

Federation and the AEU can play a key role in again turning around public opinion, alongside the rest of the refugee rights movement. This goal has been given a boost by SBS’s fantastic Go Back To Where You Came From, which showed that even the deepest set anti-refugee sentiments can be challenged. Fantastic resources for schools, including a teachers’ pack, are at http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/goback/listings/page/i/2/h/Schools/

The government’s 30 June deadline for releasing children and their families from detention has passed. When this was first announced to great fanfare lack October, there were 738 children in detention, including 276 unaccompanied minors. By January, there were over 1000, and Chris Bowen moved the goalposts so that just “half” of the kids would be released by 30 June.

Hundreds remain locked up, escorted to and from school by Serco guards, and denied all basic freedoms outside school hours. Sixty-three kids are among the 340 asylum seekers in limbo on Christmas Island since the (still unsigned) Malaysia Solution was announced on 7 May.

Large delegations of teachers are vital if we are to build on the success of World Refugee Day protests. The next rally is at Villawood Detention Centre on Sunday 24 July at 12 noon. Major events are being planned to commemorate the 10^th anniversaries of Tampa (26 August), Children Overboard (6 October) and SIEV-X (19 October).

To receive Refugee Action Coalition announcements, send a blank email to racnsw-subscribe@yahoogroups.com And visit www.refugeeaction.net.au

The Union Show broadcast on community TV C31 in Melbourne Australia from 2005 to 2009 and is a rich source of information on unions and issues affecting unions in this country. Whilst the program is no longer produced for television, the producers, United Productions maintain both a Union Show blog and the UnitedPro2010 YouTube channel as a means of disseminating union information that would otherwise be lost in time and in the morass of anti-union misinformation that is distributed by mainstream media.

An extensive archive of Union Show episodes is available for viewing at http://theunionshow.blip.tv. Current union information can be sourced at www.theunionshow.com.au and at the UnitedPro2010 YouTube channel. There are many other web sources for union information that deal mainly in the written word. One of those sites and perhaps the venerable example is www.labourstart.org.au where you will find links to many other like-minded information outlets.

The trainee trainers learnt excellent cutting and styling skills and were thrilled by the training program which ran from 9^th to 16^th November and included training on teaching methodology and lesson planning by APHEDA’s Cambodian training team. The training was run in APHEDA’s training/meeting room and Gail donated not only her time and expertise to APHEDA and partners, but also Hairdressing training equipment and state-of-the-art Hairdressing training DVDs for each of the 5 women’s centres. She also shouted $5.00 shampoos and blow-drys for the 5 trainees, at the Mith Samlanh (Friends) training centre in Phnom Penh, so that the trainees could experience the professional manner for performing these services.

Gail’s hairdresser friend Elaine visiting from Canberra also donated her expertise and ran an afternoon demonstration cutting and styling volunteer trainees’ hair, and also cut APHEDA staff members’ hair as a demonstration!

APHEDA’s partners are very pleased that APHEDA was able to offer this Hairdressing trainer training. They have wanted to include Hairdressing in their vocational education curriculum for some time because it is a very good employment skill in rural areas especially in the wedding season, but APHEDA has been unable to support because of lack of technical assistance. Now we have made an excellent beginning and are hoping that Gail will be able to offer us further assistance next year.

Tom Cotton, Gail’s colleague, recently retired Food and Beverage teacher at CIT who was visiting Cambodia also donated his expertise. He ran a Responsible Service of Alcohol training program for the Beer Promotion Workers program trainers from the Phnom Penh central and Siem Reap branch of our partner union CFSWF (Cambodian Food and Service Workers Federation), on 17 & 20 September 2010.

APHEDA Cambodia and partners are very grateful to Gail, Tom and Elaine for their generous and expert assistance.

The AEU says public secondary schools are in the worst condition and are in need of more funding and resources.

AEU President Mary Bluett says the lack of students studying in public secondary schools is due to a lack of funding in that sector, with state government’s focus largely towards primary education.

“Just over 70 per cent of Victorian children are educated in government primary schools. When it comes to secondary schools it is 58.5 per cent,” she said.

“Both the government and the opposition have come out and said that education is their number one priority and in this election campaign we will be testing that pledge.”

Currently 14 Victorian primary schools are undertaking refurbishment and construction costing $28 million under the Brumby government’s $16.2 billion Building the Education Revolution (BER) program.

But senior lecturer of education at Monash University Jenny Miller says all government schools are way behind in resources and the quality of education delivered.

“There is a huge inequity problem between private and government schools and the condition of schools in low socioeconomic areas,” she said.

“It is a big problem running rampant in public education.”

The state election will be held next month.

Interview highlights of AEU President Mary Bluett identifying issues surrounding Education in Victoria.

Minister for education Bronwyn Pike (Source: Study Melbourne)

Opposition: Liberal Minister for education Martin Dixon (Source: Study Melbourne)

Which party offers better education policies for Victoria?

(polls)

Insufficient funding of state secondary schools is forcing parents to choose private education over state schools, said the Australian Education Union (AEU).

Six weeks out from the Victorian State Election President of the AEU’s Victorian Branch, Mary Bluett, said the government is focusing on primary schools while overlooking secondary schools.

 “Just over 70 per cent of Victorian children are educated in government primary schools. When it comes to secondary schools, it’s 58.5 per cent,” said Bluett.

The “run-down nature” of some secondary schools is the cause of this decrease, said the AEU.

The government’s $42 billion Building the Education Revolution (BER) project pledges to renovate all government schools by 2017.

McKinnon Primary being renovated by BER funding

“We’re calling on the government or the opposition to maintain that pledge and to make secondary schools a priority for that rebuilding,” Bluett said.

“Brumby Labor Government is committed to ensuring that every child receives every opportunity in Victorian Schools,” said the State Minister for Education, Bronwyn Pike.

State Shadow Minister for Education Martin Dixon blames the Brumby Government for problems in education facilities.

“John Brumby’s tired and incompetent government is responsible for the shambles of long-delayed and half completed building projects under the BER,” said Dixon.

Education pledges will be tested in the State Election polls to be held on November 27^th.  

Above: BER Victorian Primary School funds allocations in First Stage.

Source: Stats from Victorian Government Website

Victorian branch of the AEU calls for greater investment in secondary education and equity funding from both parties in the Victorian State elections.

The Victorian Branch of the Australian Education Union is warning the government and their opposition that their education commitments will be tested in the upcoming state elections.

The Victorian AEU branch President Mary Bluett says that investment in secondary education, equity and disability funding are the key policies that need to be addressed within Victoria, with the AEU “calling on both parties to make a significant re-investment in secondary education”

Victoria has the lowest education funding in Australia falling $1,151 per student below the national average with government secondary schools receiving 8.89 per cent less funding than the national average.

Timeline of Victorian Education Investment Compared to National Average

Ms Bluett wants to see more equity funding to provide schools with better social programs for at risk students saying the choice between these programs and providing more teachers is one “schools shouldn’t have to make and government should be funding schools according to need”

It is estimated between 2006 and 2007, 81000 students in government education had additional needs ranging from intellectual and physical impairment, social disadvantage and behavioural problems.

The Victorian AUE campaign My School Needs is calling for the community to sign the online pledge for government to provide a new five point policy plan.

Map detailing 2007-08 investment from state and territory government expenditure (including UCC) per FTE government school student (click on state for information)

With a state election imminent, the stability of Bronwyn Pike’s position as Education Minister has been put under substantial debate.

Victorians have listed education as a key issue in the upcoming election, experts describing Ms. Pike’s seat as a key electoral seat in the upcoming election.

The Victorian president of the Australian Education Union, Mary Bluett, deemed that if Bronwyn Pike were to lose her title it would be a significant impairment to the development of the state’s education.

“It would be an enormous loss,” she said.

“This government is planning better for growth than I’ve seen.”

Despite this, Ms. Bluett said that the state government needed to invest an equal amount into secondary state schools to what they have been doing with government primary schools.

“We’re calling on both parties to make a significant investment into secondary education,” she said.

Senior Politics Lecturer at Monash University, Dr. Nick Economou, described “government fatigue” as the central threat to the ALP remaining in government.

It would be the Victorian ALP’s fourth term in government, and Dr. Economou believes it may come down to the state wanting a change.

“She [Pike] may just be swept away as a result”

“There’s a real that chance that Bronwyn Pike will not be returned,” he said.

If ALP were to remain in power, it would be the longest term a party has served in state history.

Electorate area of Bronwyn Pike

 

Seats that may fall to the Greens

 

In what is to be John Brumby’s first election as Premier, issues such as education and health are high on the policy list; which may worry some as the  Minister for Education could lose her seat.

Senior Politics Lecture at Monash University, Dr Nick Economou has identified four inner city seats that may fall to the Greens at the forthcoming election, including Bronwyn Pike’s seat of Melbourne.

However, Dr Economou believes the strength of the Government’s policy is not leaving the Liberals enough room to create their own policy, and it is unlikely the Liberals will regain power at this election.

“The Government is under more pressure from a minor party … from the Greens than it is from the Coalition”, Dr Economou said.

Australian Education Union (Victorian Branch) President, Mary Bluett, believes that Ms Pike has had a successful career in which she was able to successfully lobby party colleagues and engage all stake holders.

“It would be an enormous loss … given the work she’s done … it would be a loss to Government for her to lose her seat”, Ms Bluett said.

Victorian State Election Timeline

With the state election in November approaching, both Ted Baillieu and John Brumby have prioritised education policies to improve Victoria.

Mr Brumby’s education blueprint outlines that an extra 172,000 teaching jobs will be made available if elected. Additionally, Mr Brumby has also promised $3.2 million for early child development, in order to buy new equipment and educational resources.

‘[There] is the need for a significant re-investment in secondary provision, support for students with behavioural, emotional issues and with disabilities’ says Mary Bluett, President of the AEU Victorian division.

The Coalition has also made clear that education will be a huge priority, if they are to win the state election. Mr Baillieu has publicly denounced the Brumby government and how it has dealt with education, announcing that the Coalition will improve education if elected.

‘Both the government and the opposition have come out and said education is their number one priority and this election campaign will be testing that pledge’ said Ms Bluett.

But CEO of Environment Victoria Kelly O’Shanassy believes that the environment should be more of a priority for both parties.

‘You talk about health and education, and you put a lot of money into that and you have big goals, when you talk about the environment you need to talk about it in the same way” she said

Dr. Nick Economou, Senior lecturer in politics at Monash University, has predicted that much of the votes will be based on whether Victorians want change in the November 27^th election.

Survey

• Advanced Medical & Dental Institute, USM Penang
• Regional Libraries, School of Distance Education, USM Penang (11 branches)
• Al-Madinah International University, Shah Alam
• Asia e-University, K.L.
• Faculty Resource Center, UPM, Serdang
• Institute AL-Quran, Terengganu
• Unity College, P.J.
• Politeknik Seberang Perai, Penang
• KOLEJ POLY-TECH MARA (8 Branches)
• Kelantan Public Library (6 branches)
• MARDI (Malaysia Agriculture, Research Development Institute), SERDANG (6 branches)
• IAIS (International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies) KL
• UDA (Urban Development Authority), KL
• KADIR, ANDRI & ASSOCIATES, KL
• Malaysia SMART School (88 libraries)

How do nurses achieve better nurse-patient ratios to lift the standard of patient care? How do workers in dangerous industries win tougher safety standards? How do teachers win smaller class sizes to boost students’ ability to learn?
The answer is collective bargaining, and these benefits go hand in hand with better pay, better conditions and the ability to have your say at work — in all industries.

Less Funding, Less Opportunity Under the Coalition

Public schools and students will be worse off under an Abbott Government, the Australian Education Union said today.
AEU Federal President Angelo Gavrielatos said the Coalition’s new initiatives failed to offset the $3.1 billion it was planning to rip out of education.
“There would still be a shortfall of almost $2 billion in education under the Coalition,” Mr Gavrielatos said.
“Instead of all students getting computers tens of thousands would miss out under the Coalition which would spend $120 million compared to the $700 million still to be spent by Labor.

“Under the Coalition 1.2 million students in 1,800 secondary schools would miss out on getting access to trade training centres.
“As we saw last time the Coalition was in Government, stand alone colleges are a costly and unnecessary duplication of existing school and TAFE training facilities.
“It takes at least three years to develop them, delaying any response to skill shortages which would only get worse. The colleges teach only a limited number of courses and a limited number of students, limiting opportunities for students.
“In polling done earlier in the election campaign, voters overwhelmingly rejected the idea of spending money on separate training colleges and said additional funding for trades training should be directed to schools and TAFE.
“Only 25 per cent of people, and 25 per cent of those who intended to vote for the Coalition, supported separate training colleges in the poll conducted by Auspoll.
“It appears also that TAFE will be neglected again under the Coalition which is more interested in privatising education than providing adequate funding.
“The Coalition has correctly identified the need for better pay for teachers but, like Labor, has adopted a bonus pay approach that will not keep the best teachers in the classroom.
“What we need is a better career structure and a professional pay scheme that further rewards senior, accomplished teachers who are assessed against national teaching standards.
“Teachers reach the top of the salary scale in around nine years and the only way for them to earn more is to leave the classroom. Bonus schemes will not address this problem.”

The Future of Ethical Societies group, or FES, as we’re more commonly known, is part of a larger religious movement known as Ethical Culture, headed by the American Ethical Union.  Founded by Felix Adler, the movement draws people who believe in “deed before creed”, putting our actions before our words.

FES is a place for the young adults in the movement, ages 18 and on.  Our mission is to:

• revitalize the Ethical Culture movement;
• help our community through regular service projects; and
• provide a place for young adults to be during the transition phase of their lives.

FES is mostly comprised of people who grew up in Ethical Societies around the country, as well as people who have heard about the movement and find that it fits with their ideals.  Each year, FES holds a conference in various cities around the U.S. to gather our energy so we can promote the very best in ethical values.

This Blog

We built this blog as a forum for the FES voice, and keep the movement at large aware of our actions.  On it, we’ll grapple with important global events and the ethical way to handle them, discuss what it means to be an ethical humanist, and inform on our regular activities.

Keep watching this space!

Linda White, ACTU Vice-President and ASU Assistant National Secretary

The Australian Services Union, backed by the Victorian Trades Hall Council and the union movement, and in conjunction with the Health Services Union,the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union, Australian Workers’ Union and Australian Education Union, this week lodged submissions with Fair Work Australia in support of a landmark claim for pay equity for the traditionally female-dominated service industries. On Thursday 10 June, rallies were held around the country in support of the campaign.

The action in Melbourne began with a rally at Federation Square, addressed by Brian Parkinson, ASU Branch Secretary, followed by Linda White (above), Lloyd Williams, State Secretary of the Health Services Union, and others, including long-time ASU member Joy Stevens, who pointed out amongst other things that job satisfaction doesn’t pay off a mortgage …

After the speeches there was a noisy march through the CBD to Parliament House, made all the louder by the whistles handed out by the bucketful at the start of the rally. Slogan of the day was “We’re here today for equal pay!”, but there were others, as can be heard on the accompanying video:

There are reports of the rally on Melbourne Indymedia and the Trades Hall website. See also http://www.payup.org.au/ and http://www.asuvic.asn.au/680831.html

Some more photos from the rally and march:

HACSU distributed blue balloons

The march in Bourke Street

The front line at Parliament House

After lines were drawn in the sand by the Victorian branch of the Australian Education Union (AEU) over the NAPLAN tests, it has been reported that the AEU’s proposed boycott of the numeracy and literacy tests has been dropped following a meeting with Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard.

Gillard has made numerous public statements insisting upon the value of the NAPLAN tests, and ensuring that they are undertaken by students regardless of proposed boycotts. However, the AEU decided to cancel industrial action after federal Education Minister Julia Gillard this morning promised to involve the union in discussions about the website and set up a committee of educational experts to make sure the exam results are used properly.

If the boycott had gone ahead as planned, it would have raised many broader industrial implications.

What do you think about this the NAPLAN tests and the AEU’s proposed boycott? Cast your vote in our online poll!

According to reports, the teachers’ union (i.e. the AEU) argued its proposed NAPLAN moratorium was an “ethical and professional” measure, and not industrial action. Under the Fair Work Act 2009, industrial action is defined as ‘lawful’ or ‘unlawful’, and generally can only be undertaken in the course of enterprise bargaining.

If the Federal Court agreed with the AEU’s position, there would be no capacity to penalise the AEU for instigating the industrial action, nor to cease the industrial action.

This is where the significance is most stark, and raises an interesting question: should employees be able to refuse to undertake reasonable and lawful instructions from their employer on the basis of ethical argument?

_____________________________________________________________________________

A VECCI blog poll taken in March found that, overwhelmingly, employers believe that school leavers have poor literacy skills, while a majority believe that numeracy skills are poor as well. Of further concern is that one in five do not believe the Australian Government’s National Curriculum will make any difference.

These figures correspond to an Australian Bureau of Statistics Report in 2006 which found that 7 million Australians aged 15 to 74 (46%) had literacy skills below the “minimum required for individuals to meet the complex demands of everyday life and work in the emerging knowledge-based economy”.

What do you think of the actions of the AEU and the broader issue of numeracy and literacy tests for students? Let us know by casting your vote in our online poll and join in the discussion in the comments section.

It’s so silly it’s now almost funny. This week the Australian Education Union decided (for some pretty good reasons) to boycott the forthcoming NAPLAN national tests in literacy and numeracy because of the league tables which (inevitably) emerged from the publication of data on the MySchool site last year.

The response from the Minister for Education was to suggest that parents be brought in, effectively as strike-breakers, to supervise the tests. I’m not sure what the old shearer’s who helped form the Labor Party in the first place, would think about all this. Probably have a chuckle. Certainly most of the parents aren’t all that keen on the idea.

Here’s the AEU’s take on this. There’s a swag of other videos on the site. I can’t find the Gillard statement anywhere. I was going to blog about the growing scandal around the school funding, but enough it enough! I’d love to be talking about curriculum and learning but education is now pretty politicised in this country.