From the Australian Education Union

WorkCover victory! Stop work postponed
27 June 2007

AEU member campaign forces Government backdown

This result should be a lesson to remember for the South Australian Education Community; that when AEU members campaign strongly side by side with parents, Principals and their Associations on behalf of our students and their learning we can make Governments listen and act appropriately.

WorkCover

The AEU welcomes Premier Rann's backdown on all aspects of the attempt to cut $17 million from preschools and schools through scrapping the 1% WorkCover levy, payment by sites for the first $100 of any medical treatment for injured workers and payment for the first four weeks of TRTs ($7000).

The Government and DECS have also indicated that there will be no attempt to find the $17 million from elsewhere in the Education Budget.

DECS has committed to discussions with the AEU as to how to prevent workplace injuries and reduce Workers' Compensation costs.

Swimming Aquatics and Music Programmes Win Too!

The State Government has announced that the funding for these programmes will not be cut. The reviews of both programmes are currently with Minister Lomax-Smith. Congratulations to AEU members in these programmes who have run successful high pressure public campaigns.

Stop work postponed but campaign continues - new deadline of 17 August established.

The one hour stop work scheduled for the last hour of the school and preschool day tomorrow 28 June 2007 has been postponed.

Recognising the difficulties this late notice presents to schools and preschools the AEU has made every attempt to communicate this decision as quickly as possible.

The AEU has called upon DECS to engage in further and immediate negotiations to examine the outstanding areas identified for funding reduction in the 2006-2007 State Budget.

AEU members should still ensure that local MPs are fully informed about the impact of other funding cuts on children and students in preschools and schools.

AEU Branch Council on 18 August will determine whether or not further industrial action is required in light of continuing discussions on these outstanding matters.

State Opposition Opposes Workcover Levy

State Liberal Opposition Education Spokesman, Ian Evans pledged to drop the "mean spirited" Work Cover Levy from the proposed theft from Public School Budgets. That would be a start.

Too bad they are not likely to be in government for a while. Martin Hamilton Smith, the opposition leader said at the protest rally that we attended that this was his priority, to have the levy rescinded. Obviously he had thought it through.