ConneXions_November_2012

conne Vol. 4 No. 3 November 2012

In this edition

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Chapters Celebrate School Officer Day

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Collective Bargaining Updates Member Awards

Why I Applied For Reclassification

Is Your Position Description Up to Date?

Member Profile, Katherine Robinson

ions The newsletter for School Officers

Chapters Celebrate School Officer Day Wednesday, 17 October marked School Officer Day, an occasion to recognise and celebrate the important contribution school officers make in our schools.

Recognise, Reclassify and Reward campaign.

Chapters were encouraged to mark the ocassion and say ‘thank you’ to all school officers by hosting a celebratory morning tea.

This campaign has provided school officers with education and training about the importance of having a contemporary and accurate position description, and, in turn, the knowledge to ensure their position is correctly classified.

School Officer Day is a day for all members to get together and show school officers how much their vital and varied work is valued. It is also a chance for members to show the deep and widespread respect for school officers that exists throughout school communities.

By joining together with teachers and other school employees who are IEUA-QNT members, school officers can build the strength of their collective voice and influence the outcome of negotiations and issues affecting their work.

School Officer Day, and the recognition it brings to school officers in all schools, complements our union’s on-going

■■ Visit www.qieu.asn.au/schoolofficerday2012 for further updates and photos.

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Sector Collective Bargaining Updates Catholic Sector

of 31 December 2012.

Catholic sector employees will take the opportunity to vote in a ballot to express their view on proposed agreement terms.

While the strong collective voice of members of our union, particularly during a full day stoppage in September, resulted in the inclusion and preservation of many key provisions, employers are determined to go to ballot without further negotiation.

Our union has not endorsed the employers’ formal decision to ballot employees in two groups (Diocesan and Religious Institute schools) rather than within individual employing authorities.

Employing authorities do not and have never required our union’s endorsement to conduct two ballots. Under the Fair Work Act the authority to initiate a ballot rests with the employer.

Employer inaction in finalising the text of any proposed agreements has also potentially delayed backpayment of wages. Our union has been persistently and consistently working on finalising text which might be considered in a ballot.

Anglican Sector

Employees in the Anglican sector will consider a draft agreement in an employer ballot to be held 29 and 30 November. Despite employers’ utilising delay tactics, employee representatives reached agreement at a recent SBU meeting ahead of the current agreement’s expiration date

The draft agreement contains a 2.7 per cent wage increase over two years, with negotiations to recommence in 2014, as well as a proposal to set up a joint working party from term one 2013 that will address the issue of professional development and progression for school officers.

Employee representatives forced employers to back down on a proposal for an additional day of employer directed professional development.

All staff will voice their opinion on the provisions contained in the draft agreement during the upcoming ballot.

Lutheran Sector

Employees representatives have met with employer representatives at a number of SBU meetings following the resumption of negotiations in September.

Lutheran sector employees had agreed to a one year extension of the existing agreement that included a 4 per cent wage increase. This agreement will now expire in March 2013.

The formation of a Boarding Schools Working Party and a Technical Committee has also aided negotiations.

Employees are seeking a revised wage schedule, enhancement to leave provisions and a number of entitlements for school officer staff such as an annual review of positions descriptions and a first aid allowance.

■■ Updates relating to negotiations are regularly posted on our website at www.qieu.asn.au/collectivebargaining

School Officers Receive Member Awards School officers have been honoured, following the annual presentation of our union’s member awards.

standing contribution to our union council. Bernadette, during her time as a council member, provided a strong voice for school officer members and their particular professional issues.

Katherine Robinson (pictured, left), Student Receptionist at Caloundra Christian College, has been awarded the Ruth George Award for her strong contribution to her school chapter.

Bernadette said of her time on council: “I hope I have been a voice for school officers. It is so easy to forget that there is more to school staffing than teachers.

Katherine said of receiving the award: “The award gave me encouragement to continue with the work I’m doing in supporting my fellow colleagues at the school.”

Katherine’s chapter nominated her for the award in recognition of her tireless efforts to engage school officers colleagues during her role as a Single Bargaining Unit (SBU) representative. Read more about Katherine in her member profile on page four.

“Being on Council has been a rewarding experience. It has been a giant learning curve. I now have a better insight into the problems facing all schools.”

The Bruce Maughan Award was established this year to recognise the longterm contribution of members of our union council.

Ruth George played a key role in re-establishing the universal Award covering non-government assistant mistresses in 1937 following The Depression era cutbacks. This award honours her memory and outstanding contribution as an activist and union representative.

Bruce Maughan is a life member of our union who served as a member of our union council in the 1970s and 1980s. Bruce has been a member for over fifty years and is honoured to give his name to this award.

Bernadette Murray (pictured, right, with IEUA-QNT President Andrew Elphinstone), Laboratory Technician at Lourdes Hill College, was presented with a Bruce Maughan Award in recognition of her long-

■■ Visit www.qieu.asn. au/memberawards for more information

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Why I Applied for Reclassification completed Certificate 3 in Education Support.

In my second year I took over running of the library and have been in the position ever since. My role in the library is varied and always interesting.

I run all aspects of administration within the library such as the budget, ordering, processing of resources, IT equipment and some IT support.

The backing of the curriculum for the teachers is also a priority and an ever changing role.

Being reclassified for me is about being recognised by my employers for the work that I do.

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Library Technician Marian Catholic School , Townsville

My decision to apply for reclassification was prompted by reading an article in Connexions earlier this year. I was going to wait until I had finished my diploma before applying but upon reading the article I decided to apply straight away. The particular article was about a colleague I knew working in a primary school like myself. In it she spoke of her position and her own reclassification.

I have been at the Marian Catholic School for 8 years. I initially started as an aide supporting the teachers in special needs and learning support. I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with the students. That first year I

During my second year working in the library I decided to commence a 4 year Diploma in Information and Library Services, to help me build my skills within my role as library officer. I finished my Diploma in September of this year and am now a qualified Library Technician.

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Jacki Whalley

There are 15 classes in our school with each requiring a half hour library session. All circulation for these classes and teaching of the online databases is part of my role. As a library we run events and displays throughout the year - these include Bookclub, Bookfair, Bookweek parade, Readers Cup, National Simultaneous Story day, varied competitions and author visits (recently we hosted Phil Kettle).

Being reclassified for me is about being recognised by my employers for the work that I do within my role. Having been successful in my reclassification, I would urge other school officers who believe that they are consistently working above their level to try for reclassification. The process is not difficult and there is nothing to lose.

Is Your Position Description Up to Date?

It is essential to have an accurate and contemporary position description that clearly sets out the scope of the duties you perform as part of your role.

A position description needs to be agreed upon by employee and employer and updated, preferably by the end of every school year, or at the latest, by the beginnning of every new school year.

IEUA-QNT assistant secretary Paul Giles said it was common for school officers to continue to take on added responsibilities without their position description changing.

“This can potentially lead to school officers’ correct classification being overlooked by employers,” Mr Giles said.

“School officers who take on added duties should be recognised and rewarded for their added contributions to the school with fair remuneration.”

School officers should evaluate their positions once a year. This ensures that any added responsibilities or complexities can be added to the position description in a timely manner.

A position description should include all duties performed as part of

your role, and any leadership or supervisory duties you undertake.

An effective Updating a position position description should be a description collaborative effort between clearly sets employee and employer. out the task, what is involved in completing the task, and any specific skills required to undertake the task.

For example, office typing could include significant duties such as mail merges, communication between school management, committees and parents, database management and supervision of mail outs.

■■ For more information about position descriptions and classification, visit our website www.qieu.asn.au.

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eXions conneXions conneXions conneXions conneXions conneXions conneXions conne now that I understand what is required within my role and duties.

Why is your union membership important to you?

My membership is important as I know our union will support me if any issues arise with students or parents. Also I am enjoying learning so much about the education industry and realise the importance our union plays in shaping fair outcomes for all.

It is important to also have a voice amongst your peers and feel that together we can bring about change for the better.

What are your plans for the future?

I’m really happy in my role as Student Receptionist and running the Sick Bay at our school. The role is a term time position so it suits my young family and allows us to spend school holidays together.

In the near future I hope to grow into a role which involves more event management for the school as well as organising fundraising.

Recently my school put me through a course in Peacemaking which was excellent and I am thankful to them for that opportunity.

Katherine Robinson

Caloundra Christian College

How long have you been a school officer?

I started at Caloundra Christian College as a Student Receptionist in May 2011, so I have been in my current role for 1 year and 5 months.

What’s your educational background?

I would like to do more training in this area in the future as well as courses to assist me to support students when they need more than just a band-aid. They might need a shoulder to cry on or someone to listen to them.

Join Our Union Today To join IEUA-QNT, download a membership form from our website www.qieu.asn.au or call our membership department on FREECALL 1800 177 938.

I left school in Year 10 in 1987 to complete a Secretarial Diploma in 1988 at Metropolitan Business College in Sydney.

I have been working in administrative and sales positions in various industries ever since. Some of those industries are: Marketing and advertising, IT, telecommunications, television, events, travel, retail, finance and accounting and now education.

What issues do school officers currently face?

In this economic climate funding is tight for many independent schools. School officers are always busy and can at times have to stretch their workload to help juggle other teacher or school officer duties required to meet the needs of the school.

This makes school officers learn how to multi-skill across different areas which is great for work experience but can also be stressful.

Do term time school officers face particular issues?

Yes, sometimes we are limited with regard to training and I’d certainly like to see more training given to school officers in the various areas they require.

Have you considered applying for reclassification?

Not yet. However, I certainly will consider applying for reclassification

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ISSN 1446-8964 conneXions was prepared by Elise Cuthbertson Editor: Mr Terry Burke, General Secretary QIEU PO BOX 418, FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4006 PH: (07) 3839 7020 FX: (07) 3839 7021 Email: enquiries@qieu.asn.au Website: www.qieu.asn.au ABN: 45 620 218 172