The Union has written to AIS Chief Executive Geoff Newcombe to express the IEU’s dismay regarding recent information to schools about the payment of fees to the AIS accreditation authority (ISTAA) for the classification of Experienced Teacher.
Union members alerted the IEU at the end of last term about a Powerpoint presentation by their schools detailing the proposed Multi Enterprise Agreement (MEA). The presentation included a page specifically on the payment of ISTAA fees including ‘options’ for schools in meeting the $850 fee. The first five options provide methods for the teacher to meet the fee in whole or part. Only the sixth option suggests that the school could meet the fee. This is in stark contrast to the current arrangements where the overwhelming number of schools pay the fee to ISTAA.
During negotiations for the teacher MEAs the Union sought a clause in the hybrid MEA to ensure employers met the cost of ISTAA fees. While the AIS indicated that they could not proceed with the clause, it was agreed in writing that the AIS would inform schools that the IEU would advise members in Hybrid schools to vote ‘no’ on the MEA unless the school met the fees. The Union opposes teacher payment of the fee in Standard schools as well, but it is wholly unacceptable in Hybrid schools where the outcome for teachers achieving Experienced Teacher delivers considerably less than in Standard schools.
The Union believes the inclusion of this position in an AIS Powerpoint outlining a “consent agreement” is duplicitous and unreasonable. We again encourage members in Hybrid schools to vote ‘no’ unless the payments are met by the school. Members in Standards schools should also discuss this issue with your employer, although the Union is not advocating a ‘no’ vote in Standard schools.
The IEU has asked the AIS to remove the ISTAA fee material from the Powerpoint and the AIS website.
