Schools

Jennie George Launches the Campaign at the NSW Branch Office

Schools Staff Union Campaign

Launched by Jennie George

By David Carey
Federal Secretary (SPSF Group) - CPSU Joint National Secretary

Ms Jennie George helped launch the Schools Staff union campaign to promote the "recognition" of school support staff.

The campaign slogan is "EDUCATION -- IT COULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT US -- SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF".

Ms Jennie George helped launch a school staff union campaign to promote the "recognition" of school support staff.

25,000 non-teaching School Education workers belong to the Community and Public Sector Union across Australia.

Jennie George, who herself was a teacher, Education union official, and the first woman President of the ACTU is also candidate for the Federal seat of Throsby, in the coming Federal Election.

She said there is a "bias to the private education system against the public system representing 70% of students" by the Howard Government. This will be fixed by a Labor Government, she said.

Industrial relations was also touched upon when Jennie called for a "fair and equitable industrial relations system". She said "...the Commission should be allowed to deal with issues that can't be dealt with under the bargaining stream because we cannot continue with trade-offs of conditions and services, for a pay rise.

David Carey, the CPSU SPSF Secretary condemned the Federal Government funding priorities and said "If the current trend continues, by 2004 only 32% of Federal schools money will go to 70% of children in public schools."

He said "We have to get the issue of Public Education as the main focus for this Federal Election. We have to have a better funding system."

"The funds have to be fairly distributed to the public schools so our members, the school support staff, can do their jobs. The Union is also wanting to let the public know how important the work of the union members is in the school system. "

" Our members are proud of their work. They want recognition for their role, and they want the Government to give a fair share of Public money to Public Schools so they can do the best job for the public school students."

The National launch in Sydney was only one of many activities to celebrate the work of school support staff. The Victorian Branch of the CPSU held a special Dinner function Tuesday night in Melbourne for the Schools campaign with Minister for Education, Mary Delahunty, at the Hotel Grand Chancellor.

© 2001 Community & Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation (CPSU-SPSF) - National Office

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/latest_news/schools/20010827_Media.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005