QUEENSLAND INDEPENDENT EDUCATION UNION BRISBANE 346 TURBOT ST SPRING HILL Q 4000 P O BOX 418 FORTITUDE VALLEY
Phone: Fax: Freecall: Email: Internet:
07 3839 7020 07 3839 7021 1800 177937 enquiries@qieu.asn.au www.qieu.asn.au
ABN: 45 620 218 712
Thursday, 9 November 2006
Ref: ECE - CB4055lw
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
CHAPTER BRIEFING No. 18 - C&K Branch Centres
Protection of working rights and conditions the priority for the strong collective of members across the state Dear Colleagues Members in C&K (Inc.) branch centres have consistently opposed the loss of working rights and conditions which would result from an employer federal agreement. This loss of working rights and conditions will however, be a reality for these members with the employer federal agreement proposed by C&K (Inc.) being voted for by 35 employees to 33 against. It should be noted that relatively few employees voted in the ballot. The close vote signifies that employees are not satisfied with a set of circumstances where their working rights and conditions are put in jeopardy. The federal agreement
While a federal agreement does automatically strip employees in C&K (Inc.) branch centres of many working rights and conditions, the collective strength and determination of members throughout these centres has ensured the federal agreement is immeasurably better than that first proposed by C&K (Inc.), which was rejected by employees. Through the resolve and action of QIEU members, the second version of the agreement provides a number of significant enhancements compared to the first. Employees now benefit from the phased introduction of enhanced superannuation contributions. This is of great significance to the long-term interests of all employees as the enhanced contributions will enable employees to enjoy a significantly higher standard of living in retirement. Under the agreement an employee can no longer be required to perform enrolment, security or similar tasks outside of normal hours, for example at night or on weekends. These tasks are now limited to vacation periods, and therefore continue to be consistent with the requirements for other early childhood education sector workers. Any employee unfortunate enough to be required to work on a public holiday will now be compensated for that inconvenience. The original proposal from C&K (Inc.) would have allowed an employee to work on a public holiday without any additional remuneration. Further, employees will not be able to have some of their conditions changed without notice. In C&K’s original draft employees were bound to the employer’s “policies and procedures”, without the content of those policies being identified. If this attempt had succeeded, C&K (Inc.) could have changed its policies without consulting or even advising employees, yet employees would have been bound to those changed policies. This draconian provision was deleted from the second document. A provision allowing employees to continue to be paid their ordinary rate whilst serving on Jury Duty was also included in the second document.
C&K (Inc.) put on notice
C&K (Inc.) has issued a commitment that employees would not have the terms and conditions of their employment reduced as a result of the move into the federal jurisdiction. Whilst this commitment fails to have the legalities of a deed of settlement, it is a concession on the part of the employer as a result of the strong and persistent calls by employees not to have their working rights and conditions placed at risk by such a move. QIEU members in C&K (Inc.) branch centres can be reassured that implementation of the federal jurisdiction by C&K (Inc.) will be heavily scrutinised by employees across the Queensland education sector. During the ballot for the federal agreement, messages of support were received from QIEU members in Catholic and Anglican schools across the state and this support will remain strong as members in C&K (Inc.) branch centres continue to seek to protect their working rights and conditions. Collective strength more important than ever
With the significant loss of protections to working rights and conditions inherent in a federal agreement, QIEU members in C&K (Inc.) branch centres more than ever need to ensure that: •
the majority of C&K (Inc.) branch centre staff are members of our union;
•
all staff are informed about the issues affecting our sector and how to resolve them; and
•
members are active and public about protecting our working rights and conditions.
These three things are vital to ensure QIEU members in C&K (Inc.) branch centres are protected from any harsh implementation of the federal legislation. Protecting working rights and conditions remains priority
It is very regrettable that the outcome of the ballot will now result in significant differences of working rights and conditions for members in the early childhood education sector. While members in C&K (Inc.) branch centres face the harsh and uncertain nature of the federal jurisdiction, the majority of employees in other early childhood education centres throughout the state have had their working rights and conditions safeguarded through the state registered agreement. The state agreement, which also provides significant enhancements for members, is the result of the collective strength and action of members in these centres. QIEU members in ACSEA member centres understand the situation faced by members in C&K (Inc.) branch centres and are committed to the continued support and strength needed to safeguard your rights at work. Kind regards
TERRY BURKE GENERAL SECRETARY