School's in for unions
By MATTHEW DENHOLM Work and Industrial Relations
21aug03
NSW school children will be taught about the benefits of trade union
membership from next year, leading to claims of indoctrination.
From 2004, the revamped high school curriculum will include a component on
the role of unions as part of Work Education and Commerce subjects for
grades 7 to 10.
Architects of the new syllabus say students will be taught about the role of
unions, the achievements of the union movement and individual rights and
responsibilities at work.
The move is a big win for the NSW Labor Council, which has been lobbying for
15 years to have school children taught about unions as part of the
curriculum.
It has been welcomed by the ACTU, which hopes other Labor state governments
will follow suit.
However, it has outraged some employers, who claim that children will be
subject to taxpayer-funded pro-union "propaganda".
Adding to their anger is a $15,000 grant from the Education Department for
members of the NSW Teachers Federation to draw up lesson plans around the
new subjects.
"This is the propaganda-isation of the education system," said Garry Brack,
of Employers First.
"The trade union movement is trying out a new marketing strategy and Labor
governments are giving them a free kick.
"Children will be told about the wonderful 38-hour week, but they won't be
told how it singled-handedly destroyed 100,000 jobs and lives in the
process."
Premier Bob Carr yesterday told the ACTU Congress in Melbourne that his and
other state Labor governments were committed to supporting unions, believing
them to be vital in maintaining fair working conditions.
"We are all about recognising . . . the value of a workforce that is
protected, [with conditions] negotiated on behalf of the trade union
movement," he said.
"Australia is going to be wealthier and fairer through good industrial
relations - hard-nosed bargaining."
Labor Council secretary John Robertson said it was high time NSW students
were educated about unions and their role, past and present.
"It is about education - not indoctrination," he said.
"There is very little taught about the role unions have played historically,
on the gold fields, in shearing. But it's also about telling young people
about their rights . . . and what happens in the workplace today. And part
of that is the role of unions."
Mr Robertson denied that it was part of the union movement's attempts to
recruit more young workers.
Only about 13 per cent of 15 to 24-year-olds are union members, compared
with 23 per cent of all workers.
The ACTU yesterday unveiled a workers' hotline to help non-union workers
experiencing problems at work.
Callers may be charged a fee if their case is taken up by ACTU staff and
they will be expected to join a union.
Teachers Federation industrial officer Peter Walsh said the changes to the
NSW school curriculum will see children encouraged to discuss workers'
rights and responsibilities and "what makes a good employer and employee".
He believed it would help employers by providing them with workers who knew
their rights and responsibilities and would help teenagers with casual jobs.
"Huge numbers of kids are involved in casual work in those years from 15
on - often working several shifts a week," he said.
