Appreciation is expressed to principal members for their ongoing support for the Catholic sector campaign and for the Union’s Enterprise Agreement (EA) negotiations in independent, Christian and Adventist schools.
For principals in NSW and ACT Catholic systemic schools, the IEU will continue to consult with principal members to progress the best possible outcome in EA negotiations with the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations (CCER).
With regard to education issues, the Union is continuing to engage with the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES) in relation to accreditation for pre-2004 teachers and principals with the aim of ensuring a smooth transition to the incoming 2018 arrangements.
In relation to expectations around the monitoring and documentation of teacher performance, the IEU has written to BOSTES to seek a clear, concise and unambiguous statement of what is required.
Such clarity of expectations has already been agreed with the Department of Education where the Teachers Federation has reached agreement in regard to a realistic framework based upon the actual work of teachers. The IEU will continue to pursue this issue with BOSTES and with employers to ensure that the interests of teachers and principals are protected in the move to a standards-based environment.
The health and wellbeing of all members is a high priority for the IEU and the Union will work with its principal members to pursue issues arising from the recently released Principals’ Health and Wellbeing Survey (see the March issue of IE for an article on this).
Of particular concern are threats or instances of physical or verbal violence towards principals and the IEU will pursue all necessary action to protect the safety of our principal members and the staff at their schools. There are too many cases of principals reporting harassment, bullying or other stress in relation to parents, clergy or school governing authorities.
IEU principal members are warmly invited to engage with the Union’s Principals’ Branch, which will meet on 14 February, and/or with IEU diocesan or regional events.