Vol. 9 No. 2
In this edition
Q
December 2010
i I B Z
The newsletter for ELICOS, International College and Business College sector members
Embassy Chapter promotes strong collective culture in first phase of bargaining Building a strong union Chapter has been an important goal for members at Embassy International College, who have recently taken their first steps towards developing the college’s first collective agreement. Members at the Brisbane college met with IEUA-QNT Organiser Caryl Davies last month to discuss the benefits of being part of our union and how to begin the process of collective bargaining.
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Embassy Chapter promotes strong union collective Activist Training Collective Bargaining updates HHH declared insolvent Sector threatened by student visa changes Increasing membership QIEU Excellence Awards Member Profile
“Members at the college are ready to join in solidarity to bring about positive changes at the college by raising concerns about the conditions of their employment,” Caryl said. Regular Chapter meetings at the college have given staff the opportunity to voice their concerns about the issues they would like to see covered in their first collective agreement.
ABOVE: IEUA-QNT members Genevieve Dias-Richards, Aaron Watson, Pauline Elphinstone and Aina Johns
IEUA-QNT member at the college, Aaron from Embassy International College (Brisbane campus) get ready for collective bargaining Watson said members are ready to training to learn more about collective their first collective agreement,” Caryl stand together throughout the length of bargaining and building a strong union said. negotiations and campaign for their first network in the college. collective agreement. Embassy International College “We are looking forward to meeting and Caryl said a significant increase in members from the college’s Gold working with management on our collective union membership at the college has Coast campus will begin collective agreement to continue to create a positive contributed to the overall collective bargaining in the new year. teaching environment for staff and students culture and enabled employees to draft If you would like to become a member their log of claims. at the college,” Aaron said. of your union and learn more about In preparation for their collective “Members at Embassy have now collective bargaining, please contact bargaining negotiations, many members developed a Log of Claims and petitioned us on Freecall 1800 177 938 or email at the college have received specialised their employer to begin negotiations for elicos@qieu.asn.au
Members benefit from Activist Training Members have benefited from learning new ways to build a stronger membership collective in their colleges by attending ELICOS activist training at the IEUA-QNT Spring Hill office earlier in the year. Members who attended training were keen to explore ways to build a stronger union collective by discussing their rights at work, how to begin negotiations for a collective agreement at their college and how to approach their colleagues about getting involved with our union. All members who attended the training took away valuable skills which they could transfer into their workplace. IEUA-QNT Organiser Nick Holliday said two colleges from the Brisbane region were represented at the training day. “Members from the colleges took away valuable networking information and were enthusiastic to build on their skills
gained during an information sharing exercise,” Nick said. Nick said members were interested in learning how to build a stronger collective by increasing union membership in their colleges through better communication channels. “Activist training informed members on how to use networks and contacts in their Chapter to allow quick and easy dissemination of information and updates on important issues to all staff,” he said. If you are interested in attending one of our activist training sessions to learn more about your rights at work or gain an understanding of what you can do to improve your workplace conditions, please contact your ELICOS Organiser on Freecall 1800 177 938 or email elicos@qieu.asn.au The next activist training session will be held in early 2011.
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Collective Bargaining Updates IES
Nudgee International College
Negotiations for a new collective agreement at International Education Services (IES) continue, with an employer response received on the employee Log of Claims.
Members at Nudgee International College (NIC) are close to finalising negotiations for their first collective agreement.
Wages and conditions at the college have been linked to those in independent schools for a number of years. The college has sought to break that link, offering a pay increase that will not give parity with other schools.
The Agreement will cover both teaching and college officer staff at the college, and will include: • • • • •
The employee Log of Claims seeks enhancements to conditions regarding parental leave; superannuation; the procedure for dealing with student complaints; hours of work; conditions for subject co-ordinators; and employment security. At this stage, the employer has not agreed to any of these enhancements. Employee representatives at the Single Bargaining Unit (SBU) have informed employer representatives that an agreement in the proposed terms is unlikely to be endorsed by staff.
A 13% wage increase over 3 years; Enhanced superannuation provisions; Enhanced Long Service Leave provisions; Increased notice for teaching periods; and A commitment to professional development.
Staff at Nudgee International College are to be commended on working collectively over the past 12 months to achieve these enhancements for their collective agreement. Employees are hopeful that the agreement can be finalised before the end of the school term.
Negotiations will continue in the new year.
Australian Language School
Shafston International College
Employees at the Australian Language School have received appropriate back payment of their wages after identifying discrepancies in their college’s Modern Award schedule and contacted our union for assistance.
Employees at Shafston International College are celebrating the successful negotiation of the college’s first collective agreement.
Members became aware that the ELICOS college had interpreted wage increases to the Modern Award for staff incorrectly. After contacting our union for advice on how to appropriately address the issue, members elected a representative to speak to management on behalf of all staff. The college has now rectified the issue with full back payment and appropriate increases to now be paid to all staff. By acting collectively to seek union advice on workplace issues, members at the Australian Language School have taken the first steps towards standing up for their rights and conditions at work.
The short term agreement will be a starting point for negotiations for a more professional rate of pay in the next round of collective bargaining in 2011. IEUA-QNT member and staff representative at the college, James Ward said after 12 months of negotiations, members feel that this initial collective agreement is a step in the right direction for improved wages and conditions. “I feel this initial collective agreement sets out more clearly the terms of our employment as well as our mutual obligations under the Code of Conduct. In effect, it gives us a common set of rules that both (employees and the employer) must adhere to,” James said. James said these negotiations have clarified some of the confusing anomalies in the original Award. “Anomalies such as the hours of work needed for casual conversion and other benefits to teachers such as paid professional development have been signalled,” he said.
HHH declared insolvent in September
“The main effect of the process has been the galvanizing of staff support for collective bargaining as a means of improving pay and conditions.”
Twenty-three staff have lost their jobs after HHH International College was declared insolvent in September this year.
Ongoing since October 2009, negotiations have resulted in a number of enhanced conditions at the college, including:
Affected members attended an IEUA-QNT training session in October to gain information on how to apply for the government program General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme (GEERS).
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Access to paid professional development and staff meetings;
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Formalisation of a $5,000 co-ordinator’s allowance;
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Enhanced access to higher classifications for casual staff;
The scheme is in place to help workers recover wages and lost entitlements from their employers who are insolvent or go into voluntary administration.
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The establishment of a consultative committee; and
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A guarantee that the full amount of wage increases will be conferred to staff without transitional arrangements;
The Brisbane college joins the Queensland College of English, who went into voluntary administration in Februrary this year.
It had become a matter of urgency to negotiate an agreement for Shafston International College that reflected the valuable work of employees both in wages and conditions, James admits.
Our union will continue to support members who are made redundant and monitor their progress in securing employment in another college.
“Members are now generally more optimistic about what can be achieved through this process and see the new agreement as a platform for even better results in the next agreement,” he said.
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ELICOS and International Colleges threatened by government crackdown on overseas students Employees working in ELICOS and International Colleges will be affected by a significant drop in international student numbers following the federal government’s reduction on overseas students entering Australia on student visas. In a move by the federal government in April to reduce immigration numbers leading up to the federal election, tighter restrictions were announced for overseas students entering Australia to study.
went into voluntary administration in February and HHH International College which was declared insolvent in September. The sector could potentially be hit with an enrolment downturn that could see many more ELICOS and International Colleges closing if they cannot secure the required student numbers. Changes to immigration laws were applied on the back of a decrease in student numbers studying in the ELICOS sector in 2009.
Although this move by the government has already closed a loophole that allowed thousands of overseas migrants to gain permanent residency in Australia, it has also accelerated the declining trend in student enrolments in ELICOS and International Colleges.
A survey conducted by English Australia to assess the Major ELICOS Regional Markets in 2009 found that the total ELICOS enrolment numbers for the year were 155,614, a decrease of -4.0% compared to 2008.*
IEUA-QNT members have voiced concerns over the impact a decrease in student numbers will have on their employment, as the tightening of immigration laws may eventually lead to a decline in workplace conditions and pay.
While the federal government has claimed it is a strong supporter of the international education industry, it has stilll announced these changes to immigration despite the fact that international students make up the largest contribution to Australia’s migration level.
James Ward from Shafston International College fears the visa immigration changes have already impacted on teacher wages and conditions in the sector.
During the recent election campaign, the significance of the ELICOS and International College sector’s contribution to the Australian economy received little attention, recognition or support.
“Federal government changes in the immigration and visa regulations have impacted the industry in such a way, that our employer has been able to claim a legitimate excuse for negating our requests for better pay,” James said.
According to the English Australia Survey of Major Regional Markets in 2009, the Queensland ELICOS sector showed the strongest decline in student enrolment growth (down 9%) as well as the strongest decline in the number of students studying in the sector - 3,881 students less than 2008.*
The competitiveness of the ELICOS student market has meant that colleges have attempted to compete by reducing costs to attract students and agents. The result of this cost-cutting strategy has meant that teachers have had to bear the burden of increased class sizes, reduced learning resources and high workload pressures. Many colleges rely on the funding from student enrolments and university grants. The income from international student fees is used by colleges to improve facilities for all students, provide additional student services, support additional professional development for teachers and update and expand course materials. Without appropriate funding sourced from student enrolments, teacher wages and conditions and the quality education delivered in our colleges will be threatened. A number of Queensland ELICOS colleges have already closed their doors in 2010, which includes the Queensland College of English who
Declining student enrolments is a damaging trend for the sector and a viable future for the colleges cannot be sustained if this negative trend is accentuated by the federal government’s policy changes. Your union advocates for the link between student visa entrants and net migration to Australia to be disregarded. By becoming an IEUA-QNT member, you will take the first step towards ensuring that the government is aware that urgent changes to the visa and immigration settings are needed to ensure legitimate students are not deterred from applying to study in Australia. To join our union or schedule a time for one of our Union Organisers to visit your college, please contact your Organiser on (07) 3839 7020 or email elicos@qieu.asn.au * English Australia, (2009) English Australia Survey of Major ELICOS Regional Markets in 2009, http://www.englishaustralia.com.au/ index.cgi?E=hcatfuncs&PT=sl&X=getdoc&Lev1=stats&Lev2=env200917, accessed 17 November 2010.
Increasing Membership Members in colleges with a strong IEUA-QNT Chapter have more say in what happens in their workplace, whether it be negotiations for wages and conditions, dealing with student complaints or any other issue of concern for staff. One of the key components of a strong Chapter is high levels of union membership. Having financial members at your college is important for a number of reasons – the more people that are represented and speak together as a collective voice, the more power members have to effect change. Union membership also ensures that members with particular issues can access advice and support. It’s important to remember that our union cannot assist people who join with a pre-existing issue. Many studies have shown that the most effective way of increasing union membership is for members in the workplace to talk to their colleagues about becoming a member. These studies have also shown that many people who are not members have not joined because they have never been asked. Most people become members because they care about a particular issue – such as wages and conditions, respect in the workplace or protection of employment.
When talking to your colleagues about membership, it is important to find out what particular issues are of concern to them. This will be what motivates them to consider membership. Remember to respect differing views and be friendly and low-key when talking to potential members – people rarely join because they have been argued in to it. You might want to explain to potential members that joining our union is not a radical step; it is simply a positive move to work together with your colleagues to achieve an outcome on issues affecting you. Membership forms are sent out to all colleges at the beginning of each year, or can be obtained from your Union Organiser. It is important to have one on hand when inviting colleagues to join. With the hard work of activists in colleges, membership in the ELICOS sector continues to grow, with direct results in terms of wages and conditions. Four new ELICOS agreements have been negotiated in the past 18 months. To learn more about building a stronger Chapter in your college, contact your ELICOS Organiser for information about our next training session.
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M ember Profile
positive outcome would never have happened without the sustained effort of IEUA-QNT members and the support of IEUA-QNT staff.
“ It is up to us teachers to take ownership of an
issue. We have to tell our employers what it is that we expect of them.”
These experiences have convinced me both of the practical value of union membership and the effectiveness of IEUA-QNT’s strategies. There is, however, a common misconception of what it means to be a union member, namely that we only need to pay our union fees and go to a meeting now and then and other people (most likely the IEUA-QNT Organisers) will take care of everything. This is not the case. I believe it is important for ELICOS teachers to understand that IEUA-QNT is neither our mouthpiece nor do we outsource to them the defence of our industrial rights. On the contrary, it is up to us teachers to take ownership of an issue. We have to tell our employers what it is that we expect of them.
Kyle Smith Kaplan International College
yle Smith K is a teacher at Kaplan International College and a 2010
nominee for the John (Max) MacDermott Award. Recognising the need for union support, he joined IEUA-QNT in 2005 and has been pivotal in advocating for workplace improvements for his sector colleagues. This is his story. I joined IEUA-QNT in 2005. At the time, I was working at Shafston International College, where I’d been teaching since I first started in 2002. I was aware of our union but I knew nothing about industrial relations and was apprehensive about unionism in general; I did not understand what it involved and did not feel I had much to offer. Then came WorkChoices in 2005. I was approached by an IEUA-QNT Organiser and was left in no doubt that it was in my best interests to join. I made an effort to attend every Chapter meeting, and with each one my IR knowledge grew, as did my confidence in my own ability to contribute. With that knowledge and confidence, and in collaboration with colleagues and IEUA-QNT Organisers such as Michael Hayworth, Michael Beckett and Nick Holliday, I have been able to make a greater contribution than I ever believed I was capable of. At two separate colleges, I have helped to achieve practical outcomes that have benefited myself, my family, and my colleagues, as well as, I believe, the industry as a whole and my employer. Firstly, at Shafston in 2007, there was a protracted pay dispute with management. IEUA-QNT members worked hard during the dispute to raise our union’s profile and to ensure that all academic staff understood the complex arguments on both sides of the issue. Membership fees paid for the vital IR expertise and support which was of course provided by IEUA-QNT. As membership increased, so did the pressure on management, until, finally in 2008 – more than a year after it began – the dispute was settled; individual IEUA-QNT members were awarded several hundred dollars each in back pay. Secondly, earlier this year at Kaplan International College, IEUA-QNT members and Organisers worked with management to negotiate the Brisbane college’s first ever collective agreement. The agreement took effect in July and delivered improvements in pay and conditions which make Kaplan teachers among the best paid in Queensland. Additionally, it has raised morale amongst teaching staff. Once they had begun, the negotiations were carried out with a great deal of goodwill on both sides. Just as in the Shafston pay dispute, this
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By being IEUA-QNT members our individual voices will amount to one strong and united voice to speak out for improvements to our workplace conditions - but it is up to all of us to ensure that our collective voice grows stronger by becoming active union members.
Members nominated for annual QIEU Awards Kyle Smith and Rebecca Axelson from Kaplan International College along with Jill Mason and Cathy Hall from HHH International College were recognised for their union activism this year by receiving nominations for the John (Max) MacDermott Award and the Elizabeth McCall Award for 2010. The John (Max) MacDermott Award honours the most outstanding efforts of individual activists who have made an outstanding contribution as unionists and union activists throughout the year. Similarly, the Elizabeth McCall Award was established to honour inspirational QIEU member Elizabeth McCall who was a highly respected teacher and union member who made a remarkable contribution in all aspects of her life. Mr Burke said Kyle and Rebecca from KAPLAN and Jill and Cathy from HHH ought to be congratulated for being nominated for two of our most prestigious QIEU Excellence Awards.
Join Your Union Today To join IEUA-QNT, download a membership form from our website www.qieu.asn.au/join or call our membership department on FREECALL 1800 177 938 ISSN 1446-8964 QBiZ was prepared by Nick Holliday, Caryl Davies and Lauren Bremner Editor: Mr Terry Burke, Secretary IEUA-QNT 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 : 74 662 601 045