EDUCATION SUPPORT SUPPLEMENT TO THE AEU NEWS • AUGUST 2012 AEU head office 112 Trenerry Crescent, Abbotsford 3067 Tel : 03 9417 2822 Fax : 1300 658 078 Web : www.aeuvic.asn.au NEWSLETTER FIRST STRIKE FOR ES ES members can rightly feel proud as they prepare to strike for the first time against a bullying and condescending government. Mary Bluett branch president E S MEMBERS have overwhelmingly voted for industrial action for the very first time! I congratulate you and you should take pride in the strong message you have sent to the Baillieu Government. Over 4,200 ES members voted in the ballot and over 97% voted for industrial action. It is time that the Government and Education Department recognised the critical roles you play and the contribution you make. Wednesday September 5 will be the biggest stopwork in the history of this state. Principals, teachers and ES staff will take action together for the first time. ES staff have never taken stopwork action before. You will be part of history and you will be standing up for a better deal in our negotiations. The 2.5% pay offer made to ES is an insult. Together with teachers and princi- pals, you will build pressure on the Government to return to negotiations with an improved offer, not just about pay but also about the high level of contracts and a structure that better recognises the commitment, contribution and expertise of ES staff. I know that you have not taken stopwork action before but you do so together with your school colleagues and you do so in unprecedented numbers. ES AEU membership has increased by over 4000 since the last agreement — there is strength in numbers! Student outcomes are enhanced when teachers, principals and ES staff work together — collaboration, collegiality and shared strategies produce the best for our students. It is time to take a stand — see you on September 5. ◆ Why we are TAKING ACTION E DUCATION support staff do vital work in our schools — in fact our schools could not run without them. But so much of this work goes largely unnoticed. For too long, it has not been recognised or properly valued. For example, an ES staff member working with students in the classroom can earn less than the minimum wage in their first year. Whether in administration, the classroom, the lab or in one of the other many and varied roles in school, its time you were treated fairly and paid appropriately. We know our campaign has widespread public support, but it’s worth explaining some of these facts to your family, friends, and to parents at your school. The more people that understand why we are taking action, the more effective that action will be. Here are some points you can use when talking to people about the campaign: Recognition: The work we do to support our students is essential but our salary and conditions don’t reflect its true value. Security: ES work is incredibly insecure. Almost half of ES are on a fixed-term contract and the Government wants us to surrender vital redeploy- ment entitlements. We want more ES to be in ongoing positions, with fewer contracts and no loss of redeployment rights. No cap on progress: Regardless of the quality of our work, this government wants to deny 20% of ES their annual salary progression. All ES who perform well must be allowed to increment. Fair pay: The 2.5% salary increase on offer is an insult to the valuable work we do. We deserve and demand an offer that reflects our contribution. We continue to press for ES staff to be included in the teachers’ laptop program and to be reimbursed for the Working With Children Check, and we’re fighting proposals to remove a number of allowances. ◆ EBA 2012 education support
Transcript
EDUCATION SUPPORTSUPPLEMENT TO THE AEU NEWS • AUGUST 2012
A E U h e a d o f f i c e 112 Tr e n e r r y C r e s c e n t , A b b o t s f o r d 3 0 6 7 Te l : 0 3 9 417 2 8 2 2 Fa x : 13 0 0 6 5 8 0 7 8 We b : w w w. a e u v i c . a s n . a u
NEWSLETTER
FIRST STRIKE FOR ESES members can rightly feel proud as they prepare to strike for
the first time against a bullying and condescending government.
Mary Bluett branch president
ES MEMBERS have overwhelmingly voted for industrial action for the very first time! I congratulate you and you should take pride in the strong message you
have sent to the Baillieu Government.Over 4,200 ES members voted in the ballot and over 97% voted for industrial
action. It is time that the Government and Education Department recognised the critical roles you play and the contribution you make.
Wednesday September 5 will be the biggest stopwork in the history of this state. Principals, teachers and ES staff will take action together for the first time.
ES staff have never taken stopwork action before. You will be part of history and you will be standing up for a better deal in our negotiations.
The 2.5% pay offer made to ES is an insult. Together with teachers and princi-
pals, you will build pressure on the Government to return to negotiations with an improved offer, not just about pay but also about the high level of contracts and a structure that better recognises the commitment, contribution and expertise of ES staff.
I know that you have not taken stopwork action before but you do so together with your school colleagues and you do so in unprecedented numbers. ES AEU membership has increased by over 4000 since the last agreement — there is strength in numbers!
Student outcomes are enhanced when teachers, principals and ES staff work together — collaboration, collegiality and shared strategies produce the best for our students.
It is time to take a stand — see you on September 5. ◆
Why we are TAKING ACTIONEDUCATION support staff do vital work in our
schools — in fact our schools could not run without them.
But so much of this work goes largely unnoticed. For too long, it has not been recognised or properly valued.
For example, an ES staff member working with students in the classroom can earn less than the minimum wage in their first year.
Whether in administration, the classroom, the lab or in one of the other many and varied roles in school, its time you were treated fairly and paid appropriately.
We know our campaign has widespread public support, but it’s worth explaining some of these facts to your family, friends, and to parents at your school.
The more people that understand why we are taking action, the more effective that action will be.
Here are some points you can use when talking to people about the campaign:
Recognition: The work we do to support our students is essential but our salary and conditions don’t reflect its true value.
Security: ES work is incredibly insecure. Almost half of ES are on a fixed-term contract and the Government wants us to surrender vital redeploy-ment entitlements. We want more ES to be in ongoing positions, with fewer contracts and no loss of redeployment rights.
No cap on progress: Regardless of the quality of our work, this government wants to deny 20% of ES their annual salary progression. All ES who
perform well must be allowed to increment.Fair pay: The 2.5% salary increase on offer is an
insult to the valuable work we do. We deserve and demand an offer that reflects our contribution.
We continue to press for ES staff to be included in the teachers’ laptop program and to be reimbursed for the Working With Children Check, and we’re fighting proposals to remove a number of allowances. ◆
To be eligible for a Rewards Package, you must have a Basic Home Loan or an Offset Home Loan and have your salary credited to your account with Victoria Teachers Mutual Bank. 1. Charges may apply at non-CBA ATMs. This information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Therefore you should firstly consider the appropriateness of this information and refer to the Terms and Conditions or the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before acquiring a product. These documents are available at our branches or by contacting us on 1300 654 822. Victoria Teachers Limited, ABN 44 087 651 769, AFSL/Australian Credit Licence Number 240 960.
Our Rewards Package contains a range of money saving benefits.n Interest rate discounts on our variable Basic and Offset Home Loans. n Reduced Home Loan Establishment Fee. n Everyday fee-free banking.1 n And more! All for a low annual fee of $300. Call 1300 654 822 or visit victeach.com.au.
Rewarding educational professionals
Consultation is ES BUSINESS TOOOn your own or together with teachers, ES are entitled to a say on important school decisions.Erin Aulich deputy vice president, secondary
THE Primary or Secondary Newsletter sent with this newsletter contains an article about consultation.That article is not just for teachers — it’s relevant to ES too. All staff must
be involved in the consultation processes of every school.ES staff need to consider how you are being consulted and decide if you
think any changes should be made to the way consultation is currently carried out in your workplace.
Good consultation processes allow ES staff the opportunity to discuss and comment on decisions that affect their work — before those decisions are made.
This includes decisions about advertising contracts, translation to ongoing, recall, time in lieu, time fraction changes and changing roles and responsibili-ties.
The ES Agreement makes it mandatory for your principal to formally consult ES staff about key decisions that affect your working life.
By September 1 your principal must inform the Education Department whether consultation arrangements have been agreed with the AEU sub-branch and put in place for the coming year.
Those arrangements must include ES staff as well as teachers and the AEU sub-branch. If you are not happy with the way you are currently consulted, now is the time to ask questions and seek improvements.
It is possible to combine ES and teacher consultative committees; the AEU has found that this benefits both groups. Decisions made in relation to teachers can have an impact on ES and vice versa. Each school should adopt the model of consultation that best suits its needs.
For more information and advice on consultation, speak to your sub-branch rep or call our Membership Services Unit on (03) 9417 2822. ◆
REDEPLOYMENT: your rightHere’s one Christmas preparation that it’s not too early to make now.
Kathryn Lewis ES organiser
IF YOUR contract finishes at Christmas, now is the time to ask about your right to redeployment.
Any ES who has worked on two fixed-term contracts resulting in employment longer than 12 months is eligible for redeployment. There must be no more than three weeks between contracts.
Every year at this time we remind members of this, because this entitlement can be overlooked by schools.
Redeployment gives contract ES staff the best chance of getting further work by giving them the right to be referred into positions advertised on Recruitment Online.
The referral gives the ES an advantage in
the process, as their application is given priority status.
If you would like to know more about rede-ployment, please call the MSU on (03) 9417 2822 or check the factsheet in the members-only Help section of our website, at www.aeuvic.asn.au/advice. ◆
An ES MONTH to rememberHow is your ES Recognition Month going?
THIS year’s celebration of the work that our ES members do has coincided with ES enjoying a much bigger platform — making headlines with the vote to take industrial action for the
first time alongside teachers and principals.What better time than ES Recognition Month for ES to seek recognition from the
Government for the work you do?We’ve tried to make this the best August yet, with 40 AEU events around the state,
including our annual conference, two dedicated AEU Active training days and our second seminar for lab technicians — not to mention our popular Coffee and Cake get-togethers.
All that on top of the morning teas and other celebrations staged by schools. Our organisers have again been out in force, talking to ES members, updating them on the campaign and bringing tokens of our appreciation with them. Don’t forget, you can invite an organiser to your school at any time — not just in August — to talk about support staff issues.
We’d love to hear how your school has celebrated ES month. If you have any pictures or stories to share, email [email protected]. ◆
Conference CALLIN JUST three years our ES membership has grown by
4000 members. This explosive growth has resulted in a dramatic upsurge in ES members expressing their views and opinions.
That in turn has led to significant improvements in how ES members access their entitlements — and rightly so!
Our annual conference this year will celebrate the new-found strength of ES members and explore just how valuable it is to listen and learn from each other, and to recognise our potential as individuals and as a union.
Join us to celebrate how far we’ve come and help us continue to drum up support.
This year we have an even greater selection of workshops, with something for everyone. The topics are:
• Managing challenging behaviours• No more bullying• Relationships require challenging conversations• The big picture of disability in mainstream education• Understanding and managing stress• Domestic violence is a workplace issue• Students with autism — needs and supports in the
classroom• Confident, credible and capable• Style awareness and interpersonal dynamics• Respectful relationships in schools• Supporting ES staff through a team approach• Yoga.
For more information see our website at www.aeuvic.asn.au/es_conference. ◆
WE’RE holding a record number of ES Coffee and Cake events this year. Some 33 were advertised across the state from Mildura to McCrae and Lakes
Entrance to Ballarat. Members have welcomed the number of events and the varied locations.
Some members asked if we could hold a Coffee and Cake in their area. We answered with a resounding Yes! So in fact we have held 37 meetings across the state, including one at Traralgon that attracted almost 40 members — and a great time was had by all.
These events have been the AEU’s way of recognising the work you do in schools and for your union. Organisers and members alike have enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of getting together at a local café to share stories of ES month activities and have a casual chat about day-to-day issues.
The sharing of knowledge and experiences helps to strengthen our growing ES member-ship and build collective strength. One of the great spin offs is that some members have arranged to meet again on a regular basis, forming new networks.
We’d like your feedback about these events. Can you suggest a better venue? A more convenient location? A more appropriate time?
mecu Limited ABN 21 087 651 607 AFSL/Australian Credit Licence Number 238431 trading as bankmecu. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply and are available on request and on application. Loans subject to normal lending criteria and approval. Interest rates expressed as annual percentage rates. Variable rates correct as at 13/08/2012, however, are subject to change at any time. Check bankmecu.com.au for the latest rates. 1. Loans must be established for a full 12 months, and a maximum loan to value ratio of 90% (Family-Pause) or 80% (Eco-Pause) applies. Pausing repayments will result in interest continuing to accrue on the loan, potentially increasing the term of your loan. Full conditions available from bankmecu. 2. The Comparison Rate is based on a secured loan of $150,000 for 25 years. Warning: This comparison rate is true only for the examples given, and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. 33845 ESN
A better deal on your home loan.Switch your home loan to a bank that puts customers first. Our Basic Home Loan has special features like repayment pauses1, a range of repayment frequencies, and free redraw.
To make the switch call 132 888 or visit bankmecu.com.au/basic
PROTECTED for actionES members can now take part in protected industrial action — starting by joining in the bans imposed by teachers and principals.
Kathryn Lewis ES organiser
EDUCATION support members are now taking part in the bans and limitations imposed last
month by teachers.Within hours of the August 10 declaration of the
ES protected action ballot, the AEU delivered a letter to Education Department secretary Richard Bolt, notifying him that ES members would be partici-pating in the bans.
Activities which ES members will now refuse to participate in include:
• Responding to Education Department emails• Any staff or parent surveys administered by
or on behalf of the department• Implementing the National Curriculum• Using the Ultranet.
And of course we have “banned” Coalition state MPs from visiting our schools; any visit will be greeted by protests and an hour’s stopwork. MPs love to use our schools for easy photo opportuni-ties — but since we imposed the ban, their visits have stopped.
These bans follow a resolution, endorsed unanimously by AEU Branch Council on August 3, that ES members should be included in bans and strike action alongside their teacher and principal colleagues.
Your ES council representatives were instru-mental in presenting a draft timeline to council.
The AEU is required to give five clear days notice of industrial action, meaning the first day ES members could participate in the bans was Monday August 20. The notification included the five bans listed above.
All five bans will be ongoing until agreement is reached. There will be other bans and further
stopwork action as the campaign continues — some will be ongoing, others such as the two-week ban by teachers on extras and grade-splitting may not.
Members will be notified when a new ban is in place and the FAQs which you can download from the website at www.aeuvic.asn.au/EBA_members will be quickly updated.
It is important to remember that the bans have been coordinated and endorsed by council. We need to make sure that we are all working together in a coordinated AEU campaign.
The FAQs attempt to answer questions such as how bans could financially impact members, require-ments for informing your principal, and your duty of care during a stopwork.
For more details on the campaign timeline and questions on the bans please attend your local regional meeting — you can find your nearest event at www.aeuvic.asn.au/regional.
Alternatively, ask for a visit from your organiser or AEU leadership, or contact our Membership Services Unit on (03) 9417 2822. ◆
EBA
2012
education support DON’T forget to ask
for your I’m Protected badge to show that you’re covered to take industrial action. Ask your rep or local organiser, or email [email protected]. ◆2273_I'm_Protected_EBA2012_Badge_Outline.indd 1 1/08/12 2:15 PM
WHAT IS “PROTECTED INDUSTRIAL ACTION”?
PROTECTED industrial action is action that has been authorised under the Fair
Work Act. It must be in pursuit of an industrial
agreement, and must be the subject of a successful ballot of union members who will be covered by that agreement. It must begin within 30 days of the declaration of the ballot result.
Because it is protected, members cannot be penalised or disciplined in any way — other than by the loss of wages for the period of the action. So for example, an hour’s stopwork will result in an hour’s docked wages, no more. Unprotected action can lead to fines against the employee and the union.
Only union members can take protected industrial action. That’s why your “I’m protected” badge makes a powerful statement. ◆
Want to know more? Check the members EBA page at www.aeuvic.asn.au/EBA_members.
