Same Old Story

[peter george]

Sure everyone knows Peter George is passionate. I see 15 - 20 people regularly passionate. Our latest theme is the need for change.

The State School teachers Union of Western Australia is in a state of chaos. It is run by one person who refuses to listen to any reforms or genuine ideas. It is a dictatorship of extreme proportion which has a modus operandi of clandestinity , no openness or accountability. There are no proactive ideas, no support for grass root members and the last five EBA campaigns have elicited poor outcomes for all teachers. These campaigns have had exactly the same pattern- one half or full day strike followed by complete inaction on all fronts. We had 98 updates  during our latest EBA telling us nothing whilst all the time our leaders were colluding with DET and the ALP to try to screw the membership. Fortuitously we were saved by a vote seeking Liberal Party.

 Why is our membership not fighting tooth and nail to change this pattern of leadership? Why is it only 15 - 20 people  care enough about their conditions of work to

 lay their concerns on line? We have been shafted for the past 5 EBA's . We now have two people who were responsible for four of these EBA's forming a team to take us through the next two years. Teaching is more than staying secluded in your classroom. It is about your colleagues,your conditions and rights,your future.If you sit on your hands then we will mindlessly go down the track of destruction which will gradually attack our conditions and spirit.

If you care about your rights then tell the world that electing these people would be catastrophic . They have been a rubber stamp for DET . In the last election only 4000 out of 14000 bothered to vote. As a consequence we got what we deserved.

We need to change . I want a leader and team who will lead the education debate with teaching conditions at the forefront of every discussion.
Start spreading the news. Start posting on all forums. Save your coins I want change.

[Primary Teacher2]

Well written Peter.
Don't forget to mention that the current union senior officers seem to be using EREC to circumvent executive and the democratic decision making process.

As far as change at the next union elections goes, I think its going to take more than passion. Its going to take an expensive and extensive advertising campaign from Members First otherwise I fear the result will be the same as last time.

[Secondary Teacher]

I agree Primary Teacher 2.  Unity, being the incumbent leadership have the advantages that comes with the office.  They have a database of all members details.  I think it is necessary for MF supporters to donate to the MF campaign, so that there is some money for advertising and promoting the benefits of having a change in leadership. Then the  members first team need to make more physical contact with the membership, so that union members can actually see and listen to what they have to say about, why it is imperative that there is a change in the Executive. This is really a big ask, as the group are essentially classroom teachers, and this is the main reason why we should vote for them. Anne and Pat have had their day, and they both have been out of the classroom for too long.