Staying in Touch
The monthly e-newsletter for members on parental leave Vol. 1 No. 1
June 2010
Key changes for Catholic employees
Catholic ballot: Your Vote Counts
Significant enhancements were achieved over the 14 months of Catholic negotiations, with increases to paid maternity and paternity leave the most notable outcomes.
The ballot for the Catholic Collective Agreement is being conducted in schools from Wednesday 16 June to Friday 18 June 2010.
Welcome Welcome to the first edition of Staying in Touch, the e-newsletter for members on maternity, adoption or parental leave. This e-newsletter will aim to bring you updates and information relating to your union, such as your rights on leave; developments in employment sectors; current campaigns; your entitlements; your obligations when taking leave and returning to work; and answers to frequently asked questions. If you have a question or an information suggestion that you would like published in the next Staying in Touch, please contact IEUA-QNT Organiser Gaye Vale on gvale@qieu.asn.au
Parental Leave and Teacher Registration Understanding the requirements for ongoing renewal of your teacher registration while accessing parental leave is vitally important to your future teaching career. As members have differing arrangements with respect to the amount of leave taken, it is crucial that you contact the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) to find how much professional development you will need to undertake to ensure you are meeting the requirements and will be able to maintain your registration. QCT has indicated that they will assess these requirements on a case by case basis. It is important, too, that you make sure you remember to pay your registration fees while on leave. For all registration and parental leave enquiries, contact QCT on FREECALL 1300 720 944 or (07) 3377 4777 or visit the QCT website at www.qct.edu.au
Catholic employees will need to be aware of other policy changes that occurred during negotiations, including: •
paid maternity/adoption leave of 14 weeks;
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paid paternity leave increased to 10 days (not debited from sick leave);
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access long service leave at double the period of time for half the pay;
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establishment of a job share registry where individuals can log their details and register;
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commitment to a Joint Working Party to review the current PAR structure;
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provisions to assist with the management of work intensification and class size issues; Specialised Care Allowance for school officers involved in manual handling, hygiene procedures and medical needs; and Special Project Allowance for school officers undertaking projects that are outside their classification
To view the full agreement(s) outcomes for Catholic employees, go to www.qieu.asn.au/122.html
All employees covered by the agreement are eligible to vote in this ballot. If you are currently on leave, you should have been contacted by your employer with regard to receiving a ballot so that you can participate in this process. If you have not, contact your employer immediately so that you can receive your ballot and be part of this process. Ballot papers need to be lodged by 3pm on Friday 18 June. To view the full agreement(s) going to ballot Catholic employees, go to www.qieu.asn.au/122.html or phone FREECALL 1800 177 937.
Attention Catholic teachers on B3S4! Under the new Agreement, teachers who have been on Band 3 Step 4 (now called Experienced Teacher 4) for four years will be eligible for the new classification Experienced Teacher Six (ET6). TO QUALIFY FOR EXPERIENCED TEACHER 6: •
You need to be on Band 3 Step 4 for four years
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Address 5 written criteria
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Submit application by August 31 2010
Training Sessions
Are you interested in attending an IEUA-QNT training session to learn more about ET6? Watch our website www.qieu.asn.au for upcoming sessions throughout the year!
The Independent Education Union of Australia - Queensland and Northern Territory Branch www.qieu.asn.au