eNews - 27 January

On Tuesday the state government announced its Safe Return to School Plan, outlining various measures being implemented for the start of the new school year within the context of the opening of state borders being delayed.

The SSTUWA has been actively working with the department to address various issues and will continue to do so. The full plan, the government's media statement and the SSTUWA's recent media statements can all be found here.

While many aspects of the plan are welcomed, there are crucial matters to be addressed, such as allowing unvaccinated volunteers on school premises for one day per week, support for teacher shortages and the management of students who show symptoms during the school day.

The union will continue to lobby for improvements to the plan. The SSTUWA is also seeking information on the situation regarding TAFEs.

Executive directives in relation to 2021 EBA Negotiations that were issued by the SSTUWA on 9 December 2021 will, as things stand, come into effect on 31 January 2022 because no offer has been received from the employer.

The directives are:

Start date: 31 January 2022

• No member is to participate in any performance management or performance review processes/meetings. This includes the Principal Professional Review process (PPR).

(This refers to performance management only, it does not include sub-standard performance processes.)

• Members are not to attend any (whole or part of) staff meetings held:
  • In accordance with clause 9.3 of the General Agreement 2019 (ie the five hours per term).
  • Outside instructional hours (before/after school; during lunch or recess; for school leaders this includes regional, cluster and network meetings).
  • During DOTT time.

This does NOT include meetings called to manage the Education Health Order (Webex, Teams, etc).

• School leaders are not to complete the School Resourcing System (SRS) monthly budget check.

If you are a member at a workplace with a formed branch, your union representative will be in touch regarding a meeting to discuss implementation of these directives. It is essential that all members attend these meetings and apply the Executive directives.

If you are a member at a workplace with no delegates, please email campaigns@sstuwa.org.au for assistance.

The Australian Education Union has warmly welcomed Federal Labor’s commitments to invest in education during the COVID-19 recovery, with new targeted funding for public schools. You can read the AEU's full response here.

The election notice, nomination form and additional information about election E2021/122 for SSTUWA State Council/AEU WA Branch Council delegates are now available. These are the forms referred to in the 2022 Getting Organised booklet.

Election schedule:

Nominations open: 24 January 2022
Nominations close: Noon, 7 February 2022
Withdrawing nominations: Noon, 7 February 2022
Ballot open (if required): 28 February 2022
Ballot close: 10am, 28 March 2022

Term 1 industrial training events (TUT)

An invitation to all elected delegates to visit the website to view the range of Term 1 training options available to support you in your important union role.

Union Representative Training Level One: Schools click here
Union Representative Training Level Two: Schools click here
Union Representative and Committee Delegates Training: TAFE click here
Women’s Contact Officer Training Level One: Schools and TAFE click here