QUEENSLAND INDEPENDENT EDUCATION UNION INDEPENDENT EDUCATION UNION OF AUSTRALIA – QUEENSLAND & NORTHERN TERRITORY BRANCH BRISBANE 346 TURBOT ST SPRING HILL QLD 4000 PO BOX 418 FORTITUDE VALLEY
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Phone: 07 3839 7020 Fax: 07 3839 7021 Freecall: 1800 177937 Email: enquiries@qieu.asn.au Internet: www.qieu.asn.au ABN: 45 620 218 712
Monday, 30 August 2010
in21756tb:jmr
CHAPTER BRIEFING No. 2
Collective Action Leads to Change of Mind at SCGS Members now have greater assurance on positions Dear Colleagues Following concerted member, Chapter and community action last week the management of Sunshine Coast Grammar School conceded last week to give employees greater assurance of their positions at the school in 2011 following a middle management restructure. The announcement on 20 August that all positions subject to the restructure would be opened to external application from the outset has now been withdrawn following discussions at the School last Friday. Positions will now be filled in the first instance by a process of internal application of incumbent staff and only if a suitable internal appointment cannot be made will external applicants be considered. While existing staff still have no absolute right to the restructured positions the onus is clearly on the school to appoint existing staff to like positions in the restructured arrangements. Chapters are to be commended for their role in bringing about a change in the School's position and can continue to play a role in keeping the School under the spotlight to do the right thing by existing employees. A resolution is attached for consideration by the Chapter. Background In an announcement to separate groups of staff on 20 August the management of Sunshine Coast Grammar School (SCGS) effectively placed the employment of 21 union members under a cloud for 2011. Staff occupying a range of positions of added responsibility would either have to find a job elsewhere, take a redundancy or apply for externally advertised new positions where there was no assurance of employment as a teacher in 2011 if they were unsuccessful. This outrageous position rightly drew the ire not only of union members but also the broader school community with a concerted campaign to overturn the school's decision. Urgent talks were held at the school last Friday (27 August) and in the face of the campaign the school agreed to amend its position. Employment better assured The school has now agreed that in the first instance only applications from existing PAR incumbents in a range of positions will be considered.
In other positions where more positions exist than previously, incumbents and other current staff may apply and will be considered in the first instance. An external applicant will only be considered if an internal applicant does not satisfy selection criteria. These arrangements effectively make redundant the advertisement at the weekend for external applicants for all positions. Those elsewhere who noted the school's advertisement might care to consider this if they are of a mind to spend time on an application. A small number of positions that the school has chosen to downgrade with more work and less pay will continue to take external applications. Importantly the school has agreed that in principle, if a current PAR is unsuccessful in an application for a new position then the person will be offered a full time teaching position where available. Any of the staff affected will also have an absolute right to claim a redundancy. Significant outcomes Our union action has been successful in removing the heavy cloud of doubt hanging over the future employment of these members at SCGS. While absolute assurances of employment are not yet there the onus is clearly on the school to reemploy existing staff in the restructured roles. Chapters across our membership can continue to play a significant role in keeping the School to its word. Chapters are asked to convene a meeting to consider the attached resolution. (The resolution in the previous Chapter briefing is now redundant.) Thank you for your support of these members at SCGS. It is much appreciated. Kind regards
TERRY BURKE SECRETARY
QUEENSLAND INDEPENDENT EDUCATION UNION INDEPENDENT EDUCATION UNION OF AUSTRALIA – QUEENSLAND & NORTHERN TERRITORY BRANCH
CHAPTER FAXBACK Collective Action Leads to Change of Mind at SCGS Members now have greater assurance on positions
Resolution That the Chapter at ____________________________________________. notes the developments regarding the withdrawal of the announcement regarding the process of appointment to the restructured PAR at SCGS which placed at risk on-going employment, commends the resolve of the SCGS Chapter in the face of these offensive attacks on employment and calls on SCGS management, consistent with the agreed undertakings, to appoint existing staff to the new positions and provide employment assurance to staff for 2011. CARRIED/NOT CARRIED
PLEASE FORWARD TO NIGEL FAIRBAIRN, HEAD OF SCHOOL: Fax No. (07) 5445 4345 or Email: nfairbairn@scgs.qld.edu.au Copy to: Terry Burke, Secretary, IEUA-QNT: Fax No. (07) 3839 7021 or Email: enquiries@qieu.asn.au BY 4:00 PM MONDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2010