Welcome back RTA.
Your Retired Teachers Association had a committee meeting on Thursday by Zoom to map out our future.
The NSW Teachers Federation are unable at this stage to offer us meeting rooms.
In any case, the committee feel that any physical meeting would be better outside.
The committee will meet again by Zoom on Wednesday 16th September at 10.00am. If any member wishes to contribute, please contact our secretary (Kerry and Paul Regan) who will arrange your link to the online meeting. regan.clan@optusnet.com.au . Watch this space for an update.
The next PHYSICAL meeting will be OUTSIDE on Friday 25th September at 10.00am in Parramatta Park, near Old Government House, at the stables end. There is two hour free parking nearby and a fixed picnic table. Please bring your own drink and a plate of food to share (surname A to L savoury, M to Z sweet or fruit). Having your own picnic chair might also be an advantage. For more information and wet weather arrangements please visit the BLOG or contact me Terry Jones on 0407481222 or retiredteachersassociation@
We anticipate that the next meeting will be our AGM in November, probably Friday 13th, also held outside for health reasons. The committee felt that for our future, that an AGM was an essential step. Nominations for positions and proposed motions would need to be put to either of the September meetings.
Please consider our outdoor December Christmas meeting. Probably Friday 11th December. Please forward any suggestions to our secretary (as above) or as a comment at the foot of this post on the BLOG. An outdoor venue, with parking nearby and safe public transport would be ideal.
Traditions are important. Are you having your 80th birthday this year. If so, we would like to help you celebrate with a fruit cake supplied by your RTA. However you have to ask. Just get a message to our secretary (see above) with your name, address, telephone and/or email and a little about your teaching career. Also, if you know somebody is this situation, please let them know of our tradition.
ONE FINAL THING.
We have had a request for help. Names and telephone numbers to our secretary please.
Kerri Carr (Deputy Editor, Federation's Education journal) has contacted us to say that the second edition of the journal for 2020 is now being put together and they'd like another RTA-related article somewhat similar to the first edition under the new formatting. Kerri needs two of us for background info on recollections/ feelings related to the Vinson Inquiry/ 2003-2004 salaries campaign. Willing participants may choose to answer the questions in writing. Federation has used industrial action scores of times over the decades to gain publicity for a just cause and to exert political pressure on the government of the day, often over salary increases.
The current work value inquiry has prompted members who were teaching in the early 2000s to recall the previous comprehensive examination into the value of teachers’ work — the 2002 Provision of Public Education in NSW Inquiry, known as the Vinson Inquiry — and the salaries campaign that followed.
Chair Tony Vinson’s findings (including a 5 per cent wages catch-up) informed the next salaries campaign, which included a salaries dispute in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) and strike action.
A 24-hour stoppage and Sydney and regional rallies were held six days after the case in the IRC began. More than 10,000 teachers marched on NSW Parliament in a massive display of anger over the failure of the government to improve its salaries offer or guarantee full Treasury funding for the IRC ruling.
The government’s argument against the Commission awarding more than 6 per cent over two years was capacity to pay. Federation’s claim was for 25 per cent over three budgets.
Over three months, 48 members gave evidence about work value changes since the industrial commission’s previous assessment of the value of teachers work, some 20 years earlier.
Further strikes and rallies were held on 27 May and 2 June 2004, in response to the Government’s application to reopen the IRC case at a time when the decision in the salaries case was imminent.
In 2011 the State Government changed the Industrial Relations Act, denying the ability of public sector to pursue in the IRC salary increases based on work value. The IRC is restricted to awarding the State Government’s public sector wages policy for workers in the sector.
Questions
What do you remember about the Vinson Inquiry?
How did you participate? (eg Help draft a submission from your association/school, facilitate a school visit from the inquiry panellists)
What do you remember about the 2003/2004 salaries campaign?
What do you think about being able to strike?
What do you recall of the rallies?
How did it make you feel?
Why did you feel it was important to participate?
How involved were you in Federation activities ahead of the campaign?
Did it inspire your activism for the long term?
How do you feel about the restrictions on the IRC/the public sector wages policy?
What advice do you have for young members?
Why is it important to be an active member of the union?
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