Federal Conference:

Expresses its shock and sorrow at the devastation and loss of life following the Indian Ocean Tsunami. The devastation that it has wreaked on hundreds of thousands of people is beyond comprehension. The loss of lives and long term effect on the development of these affected nations will impact particularly on children and their education.

Notes:

Almost two years after the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq millions of innocent civilians and children live in violent and uncertain circumstances. Thousands have been murdered and tens of thousands have become refugees in their own country. Iraqi trade unionists and workers including members of the teachers' union have been murdered and kidnapped while carrying out their trade union activity. On January 4th, Hadi Salih, International Secretary of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) was brutally tortured and murdered.

The current pattern of globalisation represents an ongoing attack on the trade union movement and its principles and values. This creates complex challenges which must be confronted by the global trade union movement.

That the challenges faced by education and education unions have become more numerous and complex particularly through the pressures of globalisation which places greater demands on the public education systems than in the past.

That the world is not on track to meet the Jomtien goals of Education for All and the industrialised countries have failed to provide the resources needed as promised. The first goal of gender parity in primary education by 2005 will not be achieved. This compromises the achievement of Education for All by 2015.

That the recent UNAIDS report shows an increasingly rapid spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic including in countries in the Asia Pacific region such as India and Papua New Guinea.

congratulates former AEU President, Sharan Burrow on her election as the President of the ICFTU;

welcomes the decision of the ICFTU to develop strategies to build political and public support for union policies and practices;

applauds the ICFTU's decision to work closely with the Global Union Federations, including Education International, to achieve education for all and the promotion of life long learning and to become more responsive to the needs of women, migrant workers and youth;

supports the EI World Congress outcomes which affirm free quality public education as a critical means of combating poverty, hardship and inequality around the globe and calls on Governments to allocate at least 6% of Gross National Product (GNP) to public education in accordance with recommendations made by the international community;

supports the leadership of EI and PSI in promoting the rights of GLBTI workers globally.

is concerned about reports of the violation of human rights and that governments may use the tsunami devastation to further suppress legitimate independence movements in affected areas.

Federal Conference resolves to undertake the following actions during 2005:

Participate at federal, state and school/college level in the Global Week of Action, 24 -30 April 2005 'Educate to End Poverty' which will focus on the lack of achievement of the first Millennium Development Goal on gender parity in primary education, by 2005.

Promote and coordinate activities on World AIDS Day, 1 December 2005 amongst education union members aimed at raising awareness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and in support of prevention projects both in our country and in other countries where the needs are increasing.

Promote World Teachers Day celebrated in Australia on 28 October 2005.

Encourage schools to undertake activities in support of International Anti Poverty Day on 17 October 2005.

Continue to campaign for a just and humane asylum seeker and refugee policy. The AEU will promote and coordinate activities particularly during Refugee Week in October to highlight ongoing injustices.

Continue to participate in appropriate international forums in support of GLBTI workers.

Campaign and lobby the Australian Government to ensure the exclusion and protection of education from GATS and bilateral FTAs. Furthermore the AEU will expose and oppose the Australian Government bullying of developing countries to open up education to the GATS in the lead up to the next WTO ministerial meeting to be held in Hong Kong from December 13 to 18, 2005.

Work with progressive forces both within and outside of Iraq to assist with the development of a strong independent union movement.

Acknowledging that here has been an overwhelming response to the tsunami from the Australian community including from AEU members, the AEU Federal Conference calls on all staff in preschools, schools, TAFE Institutes and other workplaces to donate a half-day's pay to help rebuild education infrastructure in tsunami-ravaged countries.

That teachers and students participate in a half day of activities in a nominated Tsunami Education Action Week in February 2005 aimed at raising the awareness of the impact on education of the tsunami, and to raise funds to assist in the rebuilding of education.

The AEU through its Branches and Associated Bodies seeks the cooperation of State/Territory Departments to facilitate the donations to registered charitable organisations.

The AEU and its Branches and Associated Bodies will ask their own employees to contribute half a day's pay and will match the amount contributed to be donated to the APHEDA Tsunami Fund.

In addition the AEU International Trust Fund will contribute $30,000 from the ITF Emergency Fund to the EI Tsunami Fund.

This campaign could raise many millions of dollars for the relief effort.

To achieve this, Conference determines:

That a week in February 2005 be nominated as Tsunami Education Action Week across Australia.

The purpose of the week is to:

raise funds to support the rebuilding of education infrastructure

raise public awareness of the impact of the disaster on education.

Education departments and other employers be requested to support the week in partnership with the AEU Branches and Associated Bodies. Support of state governments/education departments is sought to:

publicise and support the week in partnership with the unions.

arrange for payroll deduction and the transfer of the funds to an agreed agency or agencies: APHEDA/UNICEF/CAA/OXFAM

provide some suggestions for educational activities.

the support of Government is also sought to match the funds donated by staff.

Schools/colleges to support a half day (afternoon) program of activities during Tsunami Education Action Week staff are asked to donate their afternoon's pay

students and education communities asked to undertake activities to raise funds

educational activities be provided which help students understand the impact of the disaster, including the impact on children/young people's educational and employment opportunities as appropriate for each age group

parents and the broader school communities are invited to engage in fund raising activities

The AEU calls on Federal/State/Territory governments to facilitate the deployment of teachers to assist in the education reconstruction where requested by any government in the affected countries. Further, that leave be facilitated for teachers wishing to volunteer to work in the rebuilding efforts and that such leave be on the basis that service entitlements continue to accrue.

Further the AEU encourages on-going support for children and young people in the affected areas including sister school/region/town arrangements and exploring the establishment of twinning arrangements for schools.

The AEU ITF Committee is requested to provide advice to the Federal Executive on ways in which the AEU can support education provision, teachers and their unions affected by the Tsunami over the next decade.

ITF

Federal Conference notes the work of the ITF Committee and thanks the members for their contribution. Conference endorses and supports the following new projects:

EFA project with AIPTF (India) focussing on school attendance particularly of girls.

The union recruitment project with ZIMTA (Zimbabwe).

Ongoing assistance to the Colombian teacher union and participation in the ACTU mission to Colombia in April/May 2005.

The participation of the AEU in the ACTU mission to PNG in the hope of establishing greater solidarity with the PNGTA.