SSTUWA Executive: Peter George

For my entire teaching career I have been a team player. As a strong, committed unionist I adhere to the principle of touch one, touch all. As a consequence of this belief my dealings with colleagues on union issues have been proactive, deliberately teacher based, decisive, strong and successful.

I have a background of over 30 years of union activism as a branch member and representative. During all negotiations and meetings improvement and maintenance of teachers’ rights and conditions has been my primary goal. For too long I have watched as basic union principles have been treated with disdain by our employer.

Now I fear my union has lost its way. Gone is support for the grass root membership. Gone is the strength, resolve and decisiveness of our union. Gone is proactive, uncompromised decision making. Gone is the ability to solve problems. Issues are piling up without resolution. Gone is the philosophy of, “We are all in this together”. Gone is the ability to put a strong EBA campaign strategy into place. Gone is the ability to stop the DET avalanche. Gone is a will to fight tooth and nail for teacher rights and conditions.

In short our leadership team is tired, reactive and more aligned to the DET than its members. We need a change of direction. We need to regain a modus operandi where teachers’ rights are sacrosanct.

My goals as an executive member will be to :

Adhere to touch one , touch all philosophy.
Re-connect with grass roots membership.
Demand immediate resolution to long and short term issues.
Strongly push adherence to the General Agreement at every worksite.
Table minutes of all meetings within seven days and display openness and accountability to members.
Listen to, and be proactive with , member concerns.
Reform State Council decision making processes.
Completely revamp the Western Teacher into an effective teacher union resource.
Undertake an overhaul of committees to refocus on the needs of Western Australian teachers.
Strongly push for teamwork to pervade every aspect of our union and for every member to be heading in the same direction.
To strongly encourage all stakeholders – DET/WACSSO/UNION/WACOT to work together towards a better education system.
Promote the SSTUWA as a proactive leader in education and as an organisation that is proudly apolitical and symbolic of union principles.

Our future as a union is too important for the membership to not be heavily involved in its operations. As teachers we all have a responsibility to fight for our profession. Every decision made by the executive affects our daily life as teachers.

As a part of the Members First team I ask you for the opportunity to re- discover our power as a collective. I have 100 % confidence that this committed group of people will deliver the strong, cohesive, brand of proactive unionism teachers are desperately seeking. The perception from all members must be of a union displaying resolve , strength and power.

Members First will work hard to re-ignite passionate, spirited unionism in which all stakeholders feel valued.

I am grateful to Members First for giving me an opportunity to fight for my colleagues. I look forward to the challenge of representing the voice and concerns of all teachers and fiercely protecting their interests .

MF Documents

Members First Team