Eleven Chapters were represented at the first Lansdowne Sub Branch meeting for 2017. I would like to congratulate James Rooney on his re-election as President and Janina Kozak upon her re-election as Deputy President. I would also like to thank Bernadette Hawthorne for her services as Sub Branch Secretary in 2016.
Sub Branch confirmed the following Thursday meeting dates at Fairfield RSL (4.30pm start).
Term 2 meeting:18 May
Term 3 meeting:3 August
Term 4 meeting/dinner:2 November
Term 1 2018 AGM:15 February 2018
Our aim remains to have interesting meetings allowing any and all to contribute and to conclude before the Ode (6pm).
Sub Branch requested that the IEU raise two matters with Sydney Catholic schools. The first was the issue of twilight meetings, the expectations around these and whether there was sufficient compensation for the time and stress these meetings put on teachers. The other was in regards to primary school teachers being required/expected to move classroom furniture and the WHS ramifications of such practices.
Further, we were pleased to hear that the IEU continues to pursue our workloads claim in our EA negotiations particularly with respect to class sizes.
I look forward to seeing reps and members from schools in our Lansdowne Sub Branch attend our next meeting.