Making Indigenous issues core business for unions ACTU Congress was held from 2–4 June 2009 at the Brisbane Convention Cen- tre, with an NTEU delegation including the Chair of the Indigenous Policy Com- mittee and the National Indigenous Officer. Alongside other members of the ACTU Indigenous Committee, the NTEU Indigenous delegates worked to final- ise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy, as well as ensuring that all policy platforms incorporated Indigenous perspectives. Inside this issue: Making Indigenous issues core business for unions 1 Welcome from IPC Chair 1 Update on Collective Bargaining Indigenous claim 2 New IPC member: Bronwyn Fredericks 2 Batchelor financial problems raise rumours of merger with CDU 3 Member focus: Celeste Liddle 3 NTEU Membership form 4 Contact details National Indigenous Officer Adam Frogley ............ [email protected]Postal ......................... NTEU National Office PO Box 1323, South Melbourne VIC 3205 Ph .........................................03 9254 1910 Fax ........................................03 9254 1915 Web .............. www.nteu.org.au/indigenous Welcome to the 3rd edition of Yarn Since the last issue of Yarn, the IPC and the NTEU Na- tional Indigenous Unit have been busy with round five bargaining at a number of institutions, policy devel- opment and lobbying to achieve better outcomes for Indigenous academic and general staff. Indigenous Forum, the World Indigenous Peoples Conference: Education (WIPC:E 2008) and the EI Indigenous Seminar were a great success, with a number of important issues discussed and outcomes finalised. Of particular note was the motion tabled at Forum on Indigenous perspectives in the Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) and NTEU participation on the Education International Ad-hoc Indigenous Committee. I hope you enjoy the 3rd edition of Yarn; I look forward to hearing your feedback. Cheers, Terry Wider policy areas incorporating Indig- enous perspectives include: ● Security of work ● Wages and Collective Bargaining ● Decent Work agenda ● Retirement, Income Security and Work- ers’ Capital ● Work and Family ● National Interest Expenditure Principles: Procurement ● Environment and Climate Change ● Health ● Social Inclusion ● Education. The ACTU policy on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is well struc- tured and includes a strong critique on the Northern Territory Emergency Intervention and employment issues relating specifi- cally to Indigenous workers. All suggested amendments to wider pol- icies were agreed, in particular the amend- ments to the Retirement, Income Security and Workers’ Capital policy is of note. Terry Mason argued passionately and success- fully for the inclusion of wording that seeks a reduction in retirement age, early access to superannuation and Government retire- ment benefits for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers. The election for the Indigenous mem- ber on the ACTU Executive and their proxy was held on the second day of Con- gress, with the nominees for these posi- tions being elected with the support of all voting members of the ACTU Indigenous Committee. NTEU would like to congratulate Kara Touchie from the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) on being elect- ed to the ACTU Executive and Joanne Kerr from the Community and Public Sec- tor Union (CPSU) on being elected as her proxy. ACTU Congress 2009 was very successful. Through the work of the members of the ACTU Indigenous Committee, Indigenous policy and perspectives are core business for all unions. Further information on ACTU Congress can be found at www.actu.asn.au YARN NATIONAL TERTIARY EDUCATION UNION − INDIGENOUS MEMBERS’ NEWSLETTER ISSN 1836-8549 JULY 2009 Authorised by Grahame McCulloch, General Secretary, National Tertiary Education Union, PO Box 1323, South Melbourne VIC 3205
Transcript
Making Indigenous issues core business for unionsACTU Congress was held from 2–4 June 2009 at the Brisbane Convention Cen-tre, with an NTEU delegation including the Chair of the Indigenous Policy Com-mittee and the National Indigenous Officer. Alongside other members of the ACTU Indigenous Committee, the NTEU Indigenous delegates worked to final-ise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy, as well as ensuring that all policy platforms incorporated Indigenous perspectives.
Inside this issue:
Making Indigenous issues core business for unions 1
Welcome from IPC Chair 1
Update on Collective Bargaining Indigenous claim 2
New IPC member: Bronwyn Fredericks 2
Batchelor financial problems raise rumours of merger with CDU 3
Member focus: Celeste Liddle 3
NTEU Membership form 4
Contact detailsNational Indigenous Officer Adam Frogley [email protected]
Postal .........................NTEU National OfficePO Box 1323, South Melbourne VIC 3205
Welcome to the 3rd edition of YarnSince the last issue of Yarn, the IPC and the NTEU Na-tional Indigenous Unit have been busy with round five bargaining at a number of institutions, policy devel-opment and lobbying to achieve better outcomes for Indigenous academic and general staff.
Indigenous Forum, the World Indigenous Peoples Conference: Education (WIPC:E 2008) and the EI Indigenous Seminar were a great success, with a number of important issues discussed and outcomes finalised. Of particular note was the motion tabled at Forum on Indigenous perspectives in the Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) and NTEU participation on the Education International Ad-hoc Indigenous Committee.I hope you enjoy the 3rd edition of Yarn; I look forward to hearing your feedback.
Cheers, Terry
Wider policy areas incorporating Indig-enous perspectives include:
● Security of work ● Wages and Collective Bargaining ● Decent Work agenda ● Retirement, Income Security and Work-ers’ Capital
● Work and Family ● National Interest Expenditure Principles: Procurement
● Environment and Climate Change ● Health ● Social Inclusion ● Education.The ACTU policy on Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples is well struc-tured and includes a strong critique on the Northern Territory Emergency Intervention and employment issues relating specifi-cally to Indigenous workers.
All suggested amendments to wider pol-icies were agreed, in particular the amend-ments to the Retirement, Income Security and Workers’ Capital policy is of note. Terry Mason argued passionately and success-fully for the inclusion of wording that seeks
a reduction in retirement age, early access to superannuation and Government retire-ment benefits for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers.
The election for the Indigenous mem-ber on the ACTU Executive and their proxy was held on the second day of Con-gress, with the nominees for these posi-tions being elected with the support of all voting members of the ACTU Indigenous Committee.
NTEU would like to congratulate Kara Touchie from the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) on being elect-ed to the ACTU Executive and Joanne Kerr from the Community and Public Sec-tor Union (CPSU) on being elected as her proxy.
ACTU Congress 2009 was very successful. Through the work of the members of the ACTU Indigenous Committee, Indigenous policy and perspectives are core business for all unions.
Further information on ACTU Congress can be found at www.actu.asn.au
2 – 4 June 2009 Brisbane Convention Centre
Key themes> Future of work> Organising and campaigning > A fairer society
For discussion> IR Legislation> Security of work> Wages and bargaining> Young people and unions> Community campaigns> OHS & workers’ compensation> Work and family> International campaigns
> Indigenous workers> Workforce planning and development> Income security and workers’ capital > Tax and social security> Industry/growth campaigns> Environment policy> Responding to the GFC > And more…
Special events> Fringe program> Welcome reception> Women’s lunch > Congress dinner
YARNNATIONAL TERTIARY EDUCATION UNION − INDIGENOUS MEMBERS’ NEWSLETTER
ISSN 1836-8549 JULY 2009
Authorised by Grahame McCulloch, General Secretary, National Tertiary Education Union, PO Box 1323, South Melbourne VIC 3205
New IPC member Dr Bronwyn FredericksNational Indigenous Councillor
NTEU National Office and members of the IPC welcome and congratu-late Dr Bronwyn Fredericks on her
appointment to the IPC and NTEU Research Committee.
Bronwyn is an NHMRC Research Fellow with the International Public Health Unit in the Department of Epidemiology and Pre-ventive Medicine, Monash University and the Centre for Clinical
Research Excellence (CCRE) within the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC).
Bronwyn has been actively engaged with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-controlled and community-based organi-sations for over 25 years. She has represented and advocated for Indigenous people, and worked with community organisations and governments at local, State and Federal levels.
Bronwyn holds a Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) (BCAE-KG); Bachelor of Education (QUT); Master of Education – Lead-ership and Management (QUT); Master of Education Studies (UTAS); Doctor of Philosophy – Health Science (CQU); and is a JP (Qual.) (Qld).
Photo: Terri MacDonald
Update on Collective Bargaining Indigenous claimAs the current round of collective bargaining continues across the country, NTEU has had success in achieving good outcomes in our Indigenous claims. These include securing a numerical/percentage target for Indigenous employ-ment, a senior Indigenous appointment, instituting/advancing Indigenous employment committees, cultural and ceremonial leave and University wide Indigenous employment strategies.
Despite the previous Government’s Higher Education Workplace Relations Require-ments (HEWRRs) which had a detrimen-tal effect on our Indigenous employment claim, NTEU has seen real commitment to Indigenous employment and retention from many institutions.
The table below provides an overview of what has been achieved. The University of Ballarat, in particular, has shown leadership and commitment in achieving substantive improvements on advancing Indigenous employment.
Overall, these bargaining outcomes are welcomed and provide effective measur-able outcomes that give greater opportuni-ties for current and future Indigenous staff members at these institutions, but the real work is only beginning.
NTEU will continue to work to review the progress of the Indigenous employment strategies and targets that have resulted from this current round. We congratulate the bargaining teams and look forward to working with other Branches currently in the process of bargaining.
Institution Target for Indigenous Employment
Indigenous Employment Strategy
Indigenous Employment Committee
Cultural/ Ceremonial Leave
Senior Indigenous Appointment/s
ANU Yes – 2.2% of the ANU workforce by 31/12/2012
Yes Yes Yes – under accumulated leave arrangement
No
Ballarat Yes – 7 appointments to 31/12/2009
Yes – Currently under review
Yes – as part of the Reconciliation Action Plan
Yes – 5 days paid and 10 days unpaid
No
CDU Yes – equal to or exceeding the proportion of Indigenous students
Yes Yes Yes – 5 days paid and 10 days unpaid
Yes – Pro Vice Chancellor Indigenous
UWA Yes – Aspirational target only, in policy
Yes Yes Yes – 5 days paid No
Our universities matterINVESTING IN PEOPLE & SOCIETY
Together we can make a difference
Collective Bargaining
JULY 2009 PAGE 2
YARN – NTEU INDIGENOUS MEMBERS’ NEWSLETTER
YARN
Batchelor’s financial problems raise rumours of CDU mergerNews regarding the financial status of Batchelor Institute in the Northern Terri-tory have come to light, with the announcement that the Federal Government will undertake a forensic audit. There is further speculation that Batchelor and Charles Darwin University (CDU) are seeking to merge, resulting in the loss of Australia’s only higher education institution devoted specifically to Indigenous students.Recent articles in the Northern Territory News and The Australian discussed the fi-nancial issues and speculation on a merger between the two institutions.
NTEU is of the understanding that the fo-rensic audit of Batchelor will be undertaken by Ernst and Young with a view to revising Batchelor’s business model.
Batchelor’s Acting Vice-Chancellor, Tony Mordini stated in The Australian that ‘The audit will determine our aspirations; Batch-elor in [the] last few years has aspired to
that [university] status. I am eager to see where the [Ernst and Young] audit says we should position ourselves regarding our business model.’ (HES, 27 May 2009)
Over many years there have been talks of a merger between CDU and Batchelor with little success. Further discussions have tak-en place with the institutions resolved to continue to build a stronger collaboration.
NTEU will continue to monitor the situ-ation and provide assistance to our mem-bers at Batchelor Institute.
Member focus
Celeste LiddleMy name is Celeste Liddle. I am a proud Arrernte woman, and a proud member of NTEU, Univer-sity of Melbourne Branch.
I currently work at the Centre for In-digenous Education, University of Mel-bourne, as the Team Leader – Recruit-ment and Engagement.
I believe that it is important for In-digenous higher education workers to join the Union as the Tertiary edu-cation system in this country has a lot to learn from us, and the union is in-tegral in ensuring that pay and condi-tions of employment take into account the unique attributes that Indigenous workers bring to the higher education system, such as cultural knowledge, and experience.
It is also important that Indigenous employees do not feel isolated, and that there are systems in place to deal with every day trials of Indigenous workers, such as racism and cultural responsibilities.
I encourage all Indigenous NTEU members to get involved and provide feedback, as the retention of quality Indigenous staff is integral to the re-tention of our Indigenous students.
Read YARN as an online e-book or download a PDF atwww.nteu.org.au/yarn
Above: Graduation ceremony at Batchelor. (Image courtesy Batchelor Institute)
Do you want to receive the Australian Universities’ Review, NTEU’s journal on higher education?NTEU members are entitled to a FREE subscription. Simply login to www.nteu.org.au and edit your Profile (in ‘Publications and Communication Preferences’), or email a request to [email protected].
JULY 2009 PAGE 3
YARN – NTEU INDIGENOUS MEMBERS’ NEWSLETTER
YARN
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This
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and
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. 2.
Und
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se co
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254 1
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ngem
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ot ch
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ision
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d NT
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cils a
nd Co
mmitt
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ourte
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4) da
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pleme
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atters
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ating
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e Dire
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bit ar
range
ments
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ding
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tions
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nd
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rresp
onde
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o PO
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el-bo
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IC 32
05 an
d allo
w 10
days
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end-
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Gen
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ecret
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email
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e firs
t ins
tance
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will t
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dvice
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stitut
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, how
ever,
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polic
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bit it
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re ret
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unpa
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insti
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biting
throu
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CS is
not a
vaila
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all ty
pes o
f acco
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etails
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t stat
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nstit
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. If u
ncert
ain, c
heck
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cords
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d acco
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rpose
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lectio
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due
s and
the i
nform
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is o
nly
avail
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to a
small
num
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f NTE
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The d
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may
be pr
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our fi
nanc
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sti-
tution
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gains
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it.Yo
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notic
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he D
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n or B
ranch
Secre
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Whe
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ligibl
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ecom
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ignati
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all ta
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n the
date
the n
otice
is re
ceive
d or
on th
e day
spec
ified
in yo
ur no
tice,
which
ever
is lat
er.
In an
y oth
er ca
se, y
ou m
ust g
ive at
leas
t two
wee
ks no
tice.
Mem
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are re
quire
d to p
ay du
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d lev
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set b
y the
Unio
n from
time t
o tim
e in
acco
rdanc
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NTE
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urth
er inf
ormati
on on
finan
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bliga
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, inclu
ding a
copy
of th
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s, is a
vaila
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m yo
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anch
.
‡ass
ociat
ed b
odies
: NTE
U (N
SW);
Unive
rsity
of Qu
eens
land
Acad
emic
Staff
Asso
ciatio
n (U
nion
of Em
ploye
es)
at Un
iversi
ty of
Quee
nslan
d; Un
ion o
f Au
strali
an Co
llege
Aca
demi
cs (W
A Br
anch
) Ind
ustri
al Un
ion of
Work
ers at
Edith
Cowa
n Un
iversi
ty &
Curti
n Un
iversi
ty; C
urtin
Univ
ersity
Staf
f Asso
ciatio
n (In
c.)
at Cu
rtin
Unive
rsity;
Staff
Asso
ciatio
n of
Edith
Cowa
n Un
iversi
ty (In
c.) at
Edith
Cowa
n Univ
ersity
.
The i
nform
ation
on th
is form
is ne
eded
for a
numb
er of
areas
of N
TEU’s
work
and w
ill be
treate
d as c
onfid
entia
l.
Plea
se co
mpl
ete y
our p
erso
nal d
etai
ls...
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