NTEU Delegates Handbook 2017

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DELEGATES HANDBOOK

delegates.nteu.org.au

NTEU DELEGATES HANDBOOK

CONTENTS Welcome

1

Helping Organisers

13

Holding workplace meetings

13

2

Running a successful NTEU event

14

Your support

2

Dealing with Enquiries

16

Your Enterprise Agreement

3

Getting the facts

16

Accompanying members to meetings with management

17

Delegate’s Checklist

18

Introduction 2 Your rights

Training 4

The role of a Delegate

5

Key roles of a Delegate

6

What you are expected to do as a Delegate 7

About NTEU

20

Our structure

20

Communicating 8

Origins of NTEU

21 22

Keeping members informed

8

Why we do what we do

Keeping the Branch informed

8

Working with other unions

23

Recruiting members

9

The broader union movement

23

Recruitment Toolkit

9

Other unions in our sector

23

Listening effectively

10

Encouraging active membership 11

NTEU membership information 24 Casual/sessional staff

24 24

Union campaigns

11

Transferred members

Identifying issues

11

Notes 25

On-going activism

12

NTEU Delegates Handbook. © NTEU 2018. All rights reserved.

Published by National Tertiary Education Union, 120 Clarendon St, South Melbourne VIC 3205 Australia.

ISBN 978-0-9946377-7-2. 1st edition. More information and resources at delegates.nteu.org.au

Welcome

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WELCOME Delegates play one of the most vital roles within NTEU, and so your contribution is very much appreciated.

Union strength and influence depends on more than just the size of its membership.

It relies on an active and engaged membership, how well members identify with the Union, and how well the Union identifies with them!

Delegates play an important role in this.

Delegates are also the most visible part of NTEU and the first point of contact for many staff.

Delegates build the strength of the Union in their local workplace, they organise meetings, help recruit new members, encourage members to become active and advocate on behalf of their colleagues.

Delegates communicate Union issues to members and communicate members’ issues back to NTEU officials.

The continued growth of a robust Delegate network improves your union’s ability to work productively across all areas of the workplace.

This handbook is designed to help you in your role as a Delegate. It is based on the experiences of NTEU members and staff. It contains information about how to approach colleagues to join NTEU, how to organise workplace meetings and how to build activism around workplace issues.

Importantly, the handbook also has information about training and support available to assist Delegates develop in their role.

With your help we can continue to build our Union and give members the best possible representation at work.

Alison Barnes National President

Matthew McGowan General Secretary

Gabe Gooding National Assistant Secretary

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NTEU DELEGATES HANDBOOK

INTRODUCTION An NTEU Delegate is a Union member nominated to represent members in their workplace.

As an NTEU Delegate, you are a key person in enabling NTEU to function well in the workplace.

You provide a direct link between the Union and the members in your local work area – whether this work area is a school, a department, or a building.

Your chief responsibility as a Delegate is to work with the Branch to build a united, organised, and involved membership in your workplace.

Once endorsed by members in your work area, you will undertake a range of roles.

YOUR RIGHTS The work of a Delegate is supported by outcomes negotiated in your Enterprise Agreement, legislated protections (through part 3-1 of the Fair Work Act 2009, which consolidates and adds protections for employees and union representatives) and through NTEU’s formal organisation.

Although most Enterprise Agreements don’t confer protections directly on Delegates – they simply confer rights on members to have a representative and the right of some members to take trade union leave. Rights include: • Facilities required for communicating with members and undertaking Union activities.

• Access to leave for training and development programs for workplace Delegates and leaders.

• Protection from discrimination on the basis of trade union and occupational health and safety activities.

• Support from Union staff with expert knowledge and experience in organising and worker representation.

• Formal endorsement from NTEU members in your work area or through your Branch Committee/Division Council.

Access to leave Many of our Enterprise Agreements contain provisions for Trade Union Training Leave and/or Leave for Delegates, which NTEU fought hard to win. Contact your local Branch Organiser to discuss how this leave may apply to you and your role as a Delegate.

YOUR SUPPORT In undertaking your role as a Delegate we recognise you need and deserve back-up.

The following support is available to you in your work as an NTEU Delegate:

Access to advice No one expects you to know everything, or be able to answer every question or resolve every situation you will face.

If you need assistance or help with issues that arise, we encourage you to contact the Branch to seek advice about how best to proceed.

Introduction

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NTEU is a strong union committed to protecting and furthering work rights and advancing critical social justice issues. I enjoy taking an active role as a delegate because I can help shape the Union on campus, and build connections between staff. By standing together and having an active union we can ensure that NTEU continues to be strong and fights for its members.

Amy, Murdoch University

Access to information Our website, social media and publications contain plenty of useful information for Delegates, including recent news, information about the Union, factsheets, guides, membership benefits and useful contacts.

Always feel free to contact your Branch for specific information, or simply to discuss any issues you face in your role.

Workplace support You should not feel isolated in your role as a Delegate. Support is available through attendance at Delegates meetings, where you can meet with other Delegates and talk through experiences and strategies. You can also work oneon-one with the local Branch or Division Organiser for support, particularly when you’re new in the role. If there is a particular aspect to the role you want to learn more about, we can also pair you with a more experienced Delegate.

YOUR ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT Our working conditions don’t just appear out of thin air. NTEU members have

bargained hard and taken industrial action over many years, to gain, improve and protect the working conditions that make our jobs and lives better.

Your Enterprise Agreement is a very important legally binding document that determines important aspects of your working life: your wages, entitlements to leave, span of working hours and so on.

The role of a Delegate is to ensure that staff in their area are receiving their full entitlements and to help us secure better conditions in the future by getting involved in enterprise bargaining

Enterprise Bargaining Enterprise Agreements are negotiated

by NTEU every three or four years.

Negotiations are conducted between senior management and elected NTEU representatives with the support of NTEU staff.

Enterprise Bargaining Campaign The objectives of enterprise bargaining are to protect current conditions and to win the best possible improvements for our members. Delegates are vital to this process. It is your role to speak to your

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co-workers, to find out what is important to them and to mobilise your co-workers to support the campaign.

Log of Claims In the lead up to bargaining for a new Agreement, your Branch will seek the input of members to develop a log of claims. The log is the summary of improvements members are seeking to their terms and conditions.

Protected Industrial Action As you know, negotiations often stall, with the university rejecting the claims of members. This is when your Branch considers various forms of industrial action. The Fair Work Act is prescriptive about industrial action, making it difficult to take.

For industrial action to be successful it must have the visible, active support of our members. Ensuring membership solidarity and engagement is one of the greatest challenges to being an NTEU Delegate or activist. When a meeting of members calls for industrial action all members are expected to participate in the action – poor support for our actions weakens our ability to win great outcomes for our members.

NTEU DELEGATES HANDBOOK

By working together, we can protect and improve our workplace rights.

What to do about non-members Agreements apply to all staff, not just NTEU members. Many members are, rightly, annoyed when their colleagues don’t contribute to NTEU, but benefit directly from the Agreements we fight for. It is your role to encourage your colleagues to join the Union. Please let your Organiser know if you need any training or assistance in recruitment.

TRAINING We want to ensure Delegates and activists feel trained, confident and supported in their union work. So, we’ve put together a number of sessions, which cover things like talking to people about joining the Union, handling workplace issues and getting members active and engaged.

NTEU has established a Delegates’ website where you can log on with your membership details and access information about training courses, a range of resources and this kit.

Go to delegates.nteu.org.au

Delegates are critical to the organisation of the Union and the workforce. Delegates are more than just the “eyes and ears” of the Union they are the activists who generate engagement with the members, and play a valuable role as recruiters as well as serving as conduits for information and communication between the Union and its members in each workplace. They are the first union representative many staff will meet when they are employed. (NTEU Policy 2016)

The role of a Delegate

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THE ROLE OF A DELEGATE The role of Delegate is flexible. Some members may choose to be more active, and some less so.

The most important thing is that an active network of NTEU Delegates enables vital communications between Delegates and members within your work area, and with NTEU staff, and elected officers. In this way, union members become better informed about what is happening in the workplace. As more union members take on active roles, NTEU can broaden its presence and influence across the workplace.

When you first become an NTEU Delegate, the local Branch Organiser will go through the common and important duties of the role. It’s important to let the Organiser know what you are comfortable with and whether you need training or support for some tasks. You should also let the Organiser know if you have a particular interest or area of expertise.

The role of a Delegate varies from workplace to workplace and not all Delegates will do the same things.

Some Delegates will focus on being more visible in their work area and on the distribution of Union information.

Some will specialise in specific tasks and duties, such as representing NTEU on committees, assisting colleagues with more complex tasks like reclassification, or being part of an enterprise bargaining team. Some Delegates will partner with more experienced ones or NTEU staff during disputes, while others will handle the initial or even the later stages of a workplace issue.

However, you are not expected to be able to do all of these things. Training and support is available if you want to learn more. The tasks you take on depend upon your preferences.

While the role of a Delegate can be immensely satisfying, you need to be mindful of only taking on what you are comfortable with and have the time to do.

If your work as a Delegate starts to become overwhelming, talk to other Delegates or the Branch Organiser about getting the balance right.

As an NTEU delegate, I helped identify and organise around key workplace issues of fairness, equality and job security. I learned that industrial success requires strong collective action around core issues that matter to members. Our collective actions clearly demonstrate to management our strength and the importance of respecting the wishes of their employees.

Ramesh, La Trobe Melbourne

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KEY ROLES OF A DELEGATE 1. Communications Keeping members in the work area updated about Union campaigns, activities and policies. Keeping Organisers and officers informed about local workplace issues and concerns.

2. Recruitment Approaching new staff, introducing yourself and inviting them to join the Union. Providing information to Organisers about potential members. Talking positively about the Union with colleagues.

3. Encouraging active membership Getting members to put up Union campaign materials.

Walking through a workplace before an event to encourage members to attend. Encouraging members to participate in industrial action when appropriate.

4. Helping Branch Organisers Assisting with logistics for Union events, e.g. booking rooms and equipment. Working alongside Organisers with recruitment activities or assisting with issues.

5. Dealing with enquiries Assisting with minor issues and cases. Assisting with salary related questions, e.g. casual rates, overtime, underpayments. Resolving minor issues with supervisors.

Referring members to the Branch Office for more complex or serious issues.

Introduction

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WHAT YOU ARE EXPECTED TO DO AS A DELEGATE Acting as first point of contact for members, including being clearly identifiable to members through door signs, emails to colleagues and other publicity material.

Approaching new staff to welcome them and talk to them about joining the Union.

Keeping the Branch informed about issues and problems that arise in the work area.

Keeping NTEU members in the area up-to-date by distributing materials on Union activities, meetings and issues.

Holding small work area meetings to receive and give feedback on specific issues of interest to members.

Helping the Branch maintain accurate records of members in your area.

Ensuring there is a union notice board in the designated work area and that union notices are kept up-todate.

Delegates don’t need to know all the answers to every question raised by members, know the Enterprise Agreement word-for-word, be a brilliant negotiator and advocate, be available any time of the day or night, or take up all issues, whether they are reasonable or not.

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NTEU DELEGATES HANDBOOK

COMMUNICATING As a Delegate, you are the link between the Branch Committee, NTEU staff and the members in your work area.

Don’t hesitate to contact the Branch for any information you may need regarding your role and any issues that come up in your work area.

As part of your role, you should regularly communicate information from the Branch Committee and other levels of the Union to the members in your area, and communicate what members are concerned about back to the Branch.

This two-way communication is crucial to ensuring Union democracy, and effectiveness because it keeps NTEU members active and informed.

KEEPING MEMBERS INFORMED Delegates are expected to pass on important information about Union activities and to encourage member involvement. There are a number of ways this information can be communicated, including: • Holding one-on-one conversations with members (and potential members!) where you are able to explain, and discuss Union work.

• Distributing flyers and leaflets.

• Displaying posters.

• Initiating discussions in tea rooms or at the end of staff meetings, where appropriate.

• Holding meetings of members in the workplace.

Branch staff will support you in your role by providing material for distribution and working with you to prepare for conversations, whether with individuals or groups.

KEEPING THE BRANCH INFORMED Delegates should bring members’ concerns to the Branch Committee, and ensure members know their concerns are being addressed.

The Branch should hold Delegates’ meetings to seek your feedback on key issues, however, you should also phone, email, or visit your Branch if you require any additional material or want to feed information back to the Branch Committee.

Since you have a good understanding of your workplace and the concerns of members, you can also expect to be consulted during internal Union decisionmaking processes.

Whether there is a change proposed to the structure or functioning of the Branch, a suggested position on a key workplace policy, or a campaign being proposed by the Branch, Delegates will be involved so member concerns can be taken into account before the final endorsement of any proposed activities.

Recruiting members

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RECRUITING MEMBERS Recruiting new members is one of the key roles of a Delegate. The more members we have, the more we can achieve together. Our influence and ability to achieve positive results is directly linked to the number of NTEU members in the workplace.

Having more of your colleagues in the Union will provide additional support for you in your role as an NTEU Delegate.

Delegates are in the best position to encourage staff to join NTEU because: • As a member within the same work area you are likely to better understand their concerns and have ideas on how to work together to make improvements.

• You will provide a personal and human face to the NTEU.

People often prefer to talk to colleagues about issues such as union membership.

(If you don’t know a particular potential member, try to get an NTEU member who does know them to make the first approach).

It is natural to feel uncertain the first few times you ask someone to join NTEU. This is why preparation and planning are important. As you gain more experience, you’ll find it is not as daunting as you thought, and you’ll be more comfortable in answering questions and handling objections.

All the practical information and strategies you will need to recruit new members are available in the NTEU’s Recruitment Toolkit for Delegates & Members.

RECRUITMENT TOOLKIT The NTEU Recruitment Toolkit for Delegates & Members is available to assist Delegates and members to recruit potential members to the NTEU. Download the Toolkit and other resources (such as the membership form, the fortnightly fee structure, and membership benefits info) at recruitment.nteu.org.au

As a local NTEU Delegate, you will often be the first Union face that a new staff member sees.

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LISTENING EFFECTIVELY Listening is essential for successful conversations. Listening helps us to learn more about others, their values, what motivates them and helps prevent misunderstandings.

Effective listening involves genuinely wanting to hear what a person is saying, without focusing on what you are going to say next, or interrupting the person when you disagree with them.

This means knowing when to not speak and when to sit with the silence as this gives the person the space to gather their thoughts.

Here are some steps for effective listening and also some common blocks to listening effectively:

Steps for effective listening • Keep calm and attentive.

• Show respect for what the other person is saying, even if you disagree.

• Make the speaker feel worthy, appreciated, interesting and respected.

• Use open body language – lean slightly forward, maintain eye contact.

• Reinforce the speaker by nodding or reflecting back and paraphrasing.

• Don’t interrupt.

• Allow silences.

• Listen with empathy – put yourself in the speaker’s shoes.

• Listen for key facts – focus on the issues.

NTEU DELEGATES HANDBOOK

• Ask open questions to understand more deeply and for clarification.

• Listen for feelings behind words, notice what the person is saying and how they are saying it (tone, body language).

• Be committed to understanding what is being said, even if angry or upset.

Listening blocks Sometimes we block our capacity to listen effectively. Some common blocks to listening are: • Mind reading – guessing what they are going to say.

• Rehearsing – diverting your attention to what you are going to say next.

• Filtering – listening to some things and not others.

• Judging – prejudging and then not listening.

• Dreaming – especially when bored or anxious.

• Identifying – referring back to your own experience.

• Advising – thinking up suggestions instead of listening first.

• Sparring – arguing or debating or putting the speaker down.

• Being right – not listening to criticism or suggestions for change.

• Derailing – changing the subject or joking.

• Placating – agreeing with everything said “sure …absolutely …incredible”.

Encouraging active membership

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ENCOURAGING ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP An informed and active membership is essential for the Union to achieve its goals. The best way to ensure that members are enthusiastic about Union activities is to get them involved.

UNION CAMPAIGNS An effective campaign depends on maximising membership involvement.

You can carry out this role in your work area with activities such as: • Encouraging members to put up Union campaign materials.

• Gathering information from members on their response to an issue(s) • Informing staff of a Union meeting.

• Walking through your work area before a Union event to encourage members to attend.

• Encouraging members to participate in industrial action when appropriate.

When campaigning, make sure you take advantage of opportunities to encourage other NTEU members to become involved.

Work with them to plan a course of action, and find out what their skills and interests are so that they can take on appropriate tasks, such as: • Speaking to potential members.

• Distributing material.

• Drafting a petition.

• Organising a workplace meeting.

Many of the issues facing staff in the higher education sector are complex and change will not happen overnight. We need to build support for our actions over time.

When building unionism it is critical that we initially limit our actions to what we can be realistically achieved and to what members are comfortable doing.

IDENTIFYING ISSUES NTEU believes that all union power comes from the involvement and commitment of the members. Solving problems, negotiating good Agreements and getting fair outcomes all rely on the courage and unity of NTEU members.

Not all issues raised with you as a Delegate will be useful in building strength in the workplace, or give members a sense of their power. The capacity of NTEU to influence outcomes in the workplace is also reliant on members identifying with what the Union is doing. Members will only identify if the issue is relevant to them.

Many issues will be localised to your workplace, while others may be university-wide or sector wide.

The more you encourage other members to be active themselves, the more the workload can be shared!

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I joined NTEU as I was concerned by growing managerialism, attacks on academic freedom and watching successive governments devalue our sector’s contribution to society. As an NTEU member I am able to have genuine input into the enterprise bargaining process in order to improve safeguards for all staff against unfair treatment and insecure work. Together we can make sure our universities live up to their values – but we need you to be part of it!

Jonathan, Curtin University

When thinking about an issue, the Branch will work with you to decide whether a workplace issue will be able to encourage members to become involved.

Branch consultation checklist Consider the following checklist in consultation with your Branch: The issue must: • Be widely felt: an issue that affects a large number of people.

• Be deeply felt: an issue that workers want to do something about.

• Have an achievable outcome: there should be a good chance of winning the issue.

The issue should: • Be easy to understand.

• Have a clear time frame.

• Give workers a sense of their own power, achieved through developing and carrying out a successful strategy.

• Increase the visibility of the Union.

• Not be divisive among staff/members.

• Send a message to management.

• Build union solidarity; there should be multiple ways for members to be involved.

It is also important to remember that you are not expected to take up every issue, or to deal with the ‘big issues’ on your own. If you aren’t sure whether an issue will be good to campaign around, or would like to talk through your ideas with someone to develop a strategy, make sure you contact the Branch.

ON-GOING ACTIVISM It can be difficult for members to find time for on-going active participation so it is important to find tasks that members feel comfortable doing and take into account restrictions on the times they can be involved.

As an NTEU Delegate, your role will depend on your skills and experiences. It will be something that evolves as you learn and gain new skills.

Helping Organisers

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HELPING ORGANISERS Delegates work closely with Branch and Division Organisers to help with planning Union events. Delegates can also work alongside Organisers on recruitment activities or assisting with issues.

HOLDING WORKPLACE MEETINGS Delegates play an important role in helping to organise, and sometimes run, workplace meetings. Workplace meetings provide excellent opportunities for members to come together to discuss and debate key issues. They are also an important forum for problem solving and decision-making.

At times, members may find it difficult to attend Branch meetings due to conflicting schedules, but they may find it easier to attend one specifically organised around their own work area.

Calling a meeting As a Delegate you may decide to call a workplace meeting when a particular issue arises that you want the members to discuss, or you may choose to have meetings on a regular basis to keep the communication between the work area and the Branch flowing.

Whatever the reason for the meeting, and meetings should only ever be called for a clearly defined reason, there are three things to keep in mind: Issue – Try to organise a meeting around a specific issue that members feel strongly about. This will make it more likely that members will attend, and also demonstrate the relevance of the Union to potential members. If the meeting outcomes are going to be actioned in any way, make sure you summarise those outcomes at the end of the meeting so everyone is clear about what is to happen next.

Time and venue – Make sure the meeting time and venue are convenient and accessible. Find out the most suitable time such as lunch breaks or non-teaching times. Casuals may prefer to meet after hours and on some issues you may like to meet off-site. More than one meeting may be necessary to ensure everyone has the opportunity to attend.

Notice – Make sure you give people sufficient notice by publicising the meeting well in advance and including clear details about its purpose. Think about what information would encourage your own attendance at a meeting.

Remember to build recruitment into any activity. When talking to colleagues, make sure you are personally approaching non-members as well as members, and that you always have membership forms with you.

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Before the meeting After you’ve called a meeting, don’t simply sit back and wait for people to turn up. It is important to speak with members/colleagues and get their commitment to attend. It’s also a good idea to send a reminder email before the meeting. Offer to walk to the meeting venue with members near you.

Running the meeting Once members (and potential members, where appropriate) have turned up, there are some straightforward tips you can follow to help make it successful: • Have an agenda, and stick to it.

• Start and finish the meeting on time.

• Conduct the meeting in an objective way and make sure that everybody has an opportunity to contribute.

• Circulate any relevant reports or correspondence prior to the meeting where possible.

• Summarise outcomes of the meeting at the end and let members know what will happen next.

• Ensure members leave the meeting knowing what they are expected to do, such as talking to a non-member about the issue, distributing flyers, and attending any follow-up meeting or actions.

RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL NTEU EVENT Assisting the Branch to run a successful event takes a bit of planning and work.

Plan as early as possible so you don’t forget things.

Plan Decide the time, date and location.

• Is this realistic?

• Do you want it to be a large or small event?

• How big is it likely to be given other similar events?

• Is it held during another group’s event (University or TAFE event, morning tea, student union theme week etc.), or during a University or TAFE event (exams, O-Week etc.)?

I became a delegate in solidarity with other colleagues and in the knowledge that younger members like myself will need to take up their work. There is a lot to learn about Union activity and I consider this time valuable training for ongoing work toward better and fairer workplaces. I am proud to be a visible face of the union in my School. Welcoming new union members is the most enjoyable part of my role! My colleagues understand the importance of the union’s role in university decision-making. Unions have a proud history, one it is important to keep alive.

Emma, Charles Sturt University

Helping Organisers

For small events (like a forum or BBQ), planning a month in advance is probably enough. A large event (like a rally) may need months of planning.

No matter how far ahead you plan, it will always come faster than you think – and remember: it is never too early to start organising.

Prepare Once you have decided on the type of event you are holding, its location, time and date, you need to book the facility: • Make sure the venue can fit the expected number of people.

• Make sure it has the correct infrastructure (e.g. data projector, projector screen, disabled access).

A good rule of thumb is to book a venue that is slightly smaller than you need – this way if fewer people than expected attend, the event still looks successful, and if lots of people come, the venue is packed out.

Figure out what publicity and other material you are going to need, and organise your volunteers. Posters and leaflets need to be designed and printed.

What other groups could be involved?

Just as you need to get other groups involved in the campaign, you also need groups to assist you with, endorse or support the campaign event.

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Promote Once you know who you are targeting for the event, when, where and what it is, and have prepared your promotional material, you need to get it out there.

In one respect this is the easiest part, as all the hard preparation has been done.

This involves putting up posters, lecture bashing and leafleting, or creating a Facebook event.

Be creative. The Branch or Division Office can help with promotional material – but remember, the earlier you tell the Branch, the better.

On the day Have clear publicity on the day that advertises the event as occurring that day. This publicity should be prepared as early as possible. Set up directional signs so that passers-by or people unfamiliar with the location can easily find the event.

Thank volunteers and activists for their assistance, either by email or in person.

This will ensure that volunteers feel valued and thus will volunteer in future.

Consider celebrating your success after the event.

Figure out what publicity and other material you are going to need, and organise your volunteers.

Delegates should be a visible Union presence in the workplace. Have a Delegate sticker on your door or in your work space, wear an NTEU t-shirt and lanyard, and keep a copy of your Enterprise Agreement on your desk. Be the person that new staff come to for advice, whatever it is about.

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DEALING WITH ENQUIRIES Delegates are often the first point of contact for members with an enquiry.

A colleague from your work area may approach you with a question, or seek advice about how to get assistance from NTEU. Members might ask straightforward questions about salary such as pay rates or how overtime works, employment conditions such as hours of work or how many sick days they are entitled to, or where to find important documents such as the Enterprise Agreement or University policies.

As the first point of contact with a member, Delegates can help by gathering and providing the facts, details and context of the concern, and any relevant documents, and by filling in a standard NTEU case-work sheet.

There will be times that you will need to tell a member that you don’t know the answer to their question. There will be other times when you are approached with a difficult question, or someone asks for assistance with a complex workplace issue. In both instances, refer the enquiry to your Branch. Make sure you get back to the member either with the answer to the question or with information about how the Branch will deal with the issue.

Each Branch will have a process for allocating these requests to someone who has experience in handling cases.

GETTING THE FACTS It is helpful to record: • The relevant facts (i.e. what, where, when, how and why something occurred).

• What the member is seeking in terms of assistance.

• Whether it affects any other staff in the work area.

In order to get the facts, you’ll first need to interview the members who know what the problem is. Below are some useful questions: • What happened?

• Can you describe the behaviour?

• When did you first notice this?

• Who else saw this happen?

• Has this happened to others in your work area?

• When has this happened before?

• Why do you think this happened?

• Would you be willing to talk about what happened?

• What do you think should be done now – what should the Union do?

Ask for a short summary (dot points) of the key issues and events. This makes the issue clear to both you and them.

Not sure what to talk to a potential member about when asking them to join NTEU? Why not tell them why you joined, or why you became active?

Dealing with Enquiries

Remember: • Your most important skill in this scenario is listening (see p. 10).

• If at any point you are not comfortable dealing with an enquiry, contact the Branch.

• Other than committing to raise an issue with the Branch, don’t make promises to the member about what you will do or how the situation will be resolved.

• Always seek the member’s permission before talking to someone else about it, including when referring the matter to the Branch.

• It may be appropriate to advise the member not to attend meetings, or discuss the matter with management, without Union representation.

• Don’t approach management or take on an issue yourself without contacting the Branch first.

If you are interested in developing your skills in this area, you should speak to the Branch Organiser about what training and skill development is available to you.

ACCOMPANYING MEMBERS TO MEETINGS WITH MANAGEMENT There will be times when a member will need someone to accompany them to a meeting with management. It is usually better to have a Delegate accompany a member to such a meeting.

What is a representative?

One way to assist fellow members is to accompany them to meetings

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with management. In your Enterprise Agreement you will find a definition of a representative. An example is as follows: “Representative” can be another member of staff, a Union representative and/or, at the choice of the staff member(s) involved, a nominee of a party to this Agreement provided that the representative is not a currently practising solicitor or barrister. A staff member, should they so choose, may request a representative for any matter that affects them.

Overview Your role is to: • Take detailed notes of what is said to provide a record for later use.

• Ensure a fair process and hearing and an opportunity for the member to put their case forward.

• Support the member to have the best conversation towards a constructive outcome • Be a witness – not to judge the allegation or whether the member is telling the truth • Listen carefully and actively – because you are not the one involved • Ensure procedural fairness Your role is not to: • Advocate on behalf of the member – you don’t have to say anything about the facts.

• Blindly back up or make judgements about anything the member says or only be the emotional support.

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NTEU DELEGATES HANDBOOK

DELEGATE’S CHECKLIST Do you have a designated area of responsibility?

Are you clear about your role as a Delegate?

Do you have something that identifies you to others as a Delegate (such as a door sign or sticker)?

Do you have sufficient relevant information about the Union, such as fee information?

Is there a Union notice board or some point of reference for promoting Union activities in your designated area?

Do you have the appropriate membership application forms to recruit new members?

Do you keep an up-to-date list of members and non-members in your area?

Do you communicate with members/non-members on a regular basis?

Do you have an email network of members and non-members in your area?

Do you approach new staff and non-members to join the Union?

Do you notify the Branch about members leaving/new staff starting?

Dealing with Enquiries

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DELEGATE’S CHECKLIST CONTINUED Do you organise activities (such as a morning tea/small informal get together) and invite all staff in your area?

Do you promote Union meetings and encourage members to attend?

Do you have contact with other Delegates on your campus?

Do you identify gaps in the coverage of Delegates? Is there a ‘succession’ plan for replacing Delegates?

If you need to refer any issues that come to you as a Delegate do you know where and who to refer them to?

If you have any problems in your role as a Delegate, do you know where to get assistance?

Is there particular information or expertise you would like to see provided to Delegates?

NTEU membership is the best way for university staff to protect their individual and collective working conditions. I think all staff should join the Union and be part of one single, strong and united voice. Being an NTEU delegate definitely contributes to this voice and allows me to have a greater say in decisions that affect my workplace and the greater community. Supporting and being supported by my union colleagues is a great bonus of working at the university and I’m proud to be able to have an active role in protecting and improving working conditions for myself and those around me.”

Glen, University of Sydney

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NTEU DELEGATES HANDBOOK

ABOUT NTEU NTEU is a member-driven Union. All important decisions of the Union are made by our members.

NTEU is a democratic Union that draws its strength from the activism and commitment of our members. We believe that by working together we can ensure that our workplaces are better places to work, teach and research.

NTEU is the professional voice for tertiary education staff. Through our public policy campaigns, national and state lobbying, submissions to reviews and inquiries, interventions in public debates and representations to key industry bodies and research funding organisations, the NTEU ensures that the voice of staff influences the decisions that affect our working lives. No other organisation speaks for all staff in the professional debates that shape the future of our sector.

OUR STRUCTURE NTEU is a national union with structures in the workplace (Branch), each State and Territory (Division) and National levels. Members elect representatives at each level to manage the Union on their behalf.

Our local Branch structure is a key feature of NTEU. An enormous amount of work is done at this level, particularly in developing local campaigns and providing direct support to members.

Much of this work is done by elected members and Delegates, and supported

by local Branch staff with the support of Division and National staff and officers.

Each Branch elects representatives on National Council, who participate directly in national decision making. They also represent the Branch at Division Council.

The Division plays a key role in coordinating work across Branches and providing industrial advice and support, and a forum for members to organise around common concerns.

The National Office is responsible for promoting the Union within the higher education sector, lobbying and liaising with funding bodies, publishing national journals, coordinating national campaigns and furthering the professional interests of members.

National Council National Council is the supreme decisionmaking body of the NTEU. It meets annually to set policy in a wide range of areas and comprises the National Officers, Division Presidents and Secretaries, National Executive members, and about 100 National Councillors directly elected by members in Branches.

Each Branch is entitled to one National Councillor for each 300 members. The minimum size to qualify for a Councillor position is 150 members. Thus small sites are combined to give effect to representation. In addition, there are three Councillors elected by and from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (A&TSI) membership.

About NTEU

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NTEU STRUCTURE A&TSI member (1)

National Executive

A&TSIPC Chair

National Officers (3)

National Executive comprises: 8 Division Secretaries 3 National Officers 1 Vice-President Academic 1 A&TSI Member (A&TSIC Chair) 8 National Councillors elected by National Council 1 Vice-President General A&TSI positions

National Council

National Councillors are elected by members for 2 year terms.

A&TSIPC + 3

A&TSI Position (1)

Division Executive

Division Officers

Division Council

Division Councillors are elected by members for 2 year terms.

Branch Executive

A&TSI Position (1)

Branch Committee

In each Branch, members elect a Committee for a term of 2 years

A&TSI Members

Members

ORIGINS OF NTEU In 1993, five higher education staff associations joined together to build a strong, large union that covered the entire higher education sector. With a single, united voice, the members of those five unions knew they would be able to rise above the arbitrary divisions between universities and other higher education providers, academics and professional staff, permanent and casual workers.

The amalgamation was overwhelmingly endorsed by the members of each of the five staff associations. The result was NTEU, an industry-wide Union that now represents over 27,000 members nationally in universities, research institutes, student guilds and (in Victoria) TAFE and Adult & Community Education.

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National Council elects members of the National Executive. From among the elected members of the National Executive, National Council also elects a Vice-President (Academic) and a VicePresident (General).

More information at www.nteu.org.au/ myunion/about_us/national_council

Special interest groups The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy Committee (A&TSIPC), oversees the development and implementation of A&TSI policy across all levels of the Union.

A&TSIPC convenes the annual A&TSI Forum which develops policy on A&TSI higher education. www.nteu.org.au/atsi The Women’s Action Committee (WAC), promotes the participation and voice of women members, holds a biennial Women’s Conference and publishes an annual women’s magazine, Agenda. www.nteu.org.au/women Queer Unionists in Tertiary Education (QUTE), a network of NTEU members and staff actively engaged in addressing the issues facing workers of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, expression and sex characteristics in higher education and within NTEU. www.nteu.org.au/qute

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO Promoting a high-quality, accessible higher-education system that values staff and students is a foundation of NTEU. We

NTEU DELEGATES HANDBOOK

believe that a well-resourced sector that supports intellectual freedom, a broad and inclusive curriculum, high-quality research and democratic governance will not only benefit staff and students, but will also ensure Australia has the intellectual, cultural and practical resources to enable us to meet the challenges of the future.

Your working conditions NTEU works to defend, enforce and expand the rights and interests of our members. We negotiate Enterprise Agreements that are the core instruments in setting salaries and employment conditions in each workplace, provide industrial support to individual members and groups of members, and participate in representative bodies at workplaces to ensure compliance and continued development.

General information on employment conditions, Agreements, Awards and related issues can be found at www.nteu.org.au/rights

Public policy advocacy NTEU advocates on behalf of members to government and other public bodies on a wide range of issues, including various aspects of higher education policy.

Our public policy and advocacy work covers issues such as public investment in higher education, gender equity, academic and intellectual freedom, research performance and insecure work.

Detailed information and resources can be found at www.nteu.org.au/policy

Working with other unions

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WORKING WITH OTHER UNIONS The strength of NTEU is not just the engagement and activism of our members, it is also drawn from the relationships we have with other organisations and groups – particularly within the broader union movement.

THE BROADER UNION MOVEMENT NTEU is affiliated to the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and State and Territory union bodies, and we actively participate in the state, national and international campaigns of the Australian union movement.

NTEU is not affiliated with any political party.

We play a leading role in Education International (EI), the world’s largest federation of unions. EI represents thirty

million education employees, in around four hundred organisations from one hundred and seventy countries and territories across the globe.

OTHER UNIONS IN OUR SECTOR While NTEU is the largest union in the higher education sector and offers membership to all staff, there are also other smaller unions whose coverage overlaps with sections of our potential membership.

Much of the membership of those other unions is historical and NTEU maintains a good working relationship them. Our policy is not to actively recruit staff who are already members of other unions.

Sometimes members from other unions will want to join the NTEU, and these prospective members should be provided with information about joining.

Workplace delegates are incredibly important because they help the Union to identify the issues affecting members and to develop relevant campaigns to address those issues.

Delegates also provide support to members who want to become more active in the Union.

Nic, Monash University

NTEU DELEGATES HANDBOOK

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NTEU MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION NTEU fees are tax deductible. For continuing/permanent or fixed-term contract staff employed either fulltime or part-time the fee is set as 1% of salary.

For example, if the potential member is paid fortnightly $2000.00 (gross), then their membership fee would be $20.00 per fortnight.

Refer also to the breakdown of fortnightly costs in the Recruitment Toolkit, available online at recruitment.nteu.org.au.

TRANSFERRED MEMBERS Transfer of NTEU membership from one institution to another is not automatic.

Transferring members need to fill in a new membership form to make sure we have their most up-to-date details. Let the Branch know about the transferred member so that they can make sure their details are up-to-date.

The same process should be applied to members who have transferred internally.

CASUAL/SESSIONAL MEMBERS Casual/sessional staff pay a special flat rate in recognition of the unpredictability of casual pay rates and work. For the first time since 2001, these rates were increased in March 2018, and again in March 2020. The salary structure was also changed, and Direct Debit option added. Please ensure join forms have the new fees and salary structure: Estimated Annual Salary

Less than $20,000

Monthly payment

Quarterly payment

Half Yearly payment

Annually payment

$9

$27

$54

$108

$20,000 to $29,999

$13.50

$40.50

$81

$162

$30,000 to $49,999

$18

$54

$108

$216

$22.50

$67.50

$135

$270

$50,000 and over

Union fees are also tax deductible, and it is good to remind people of this when talking to them about joining the Union.

NTEU membership information

NOTES

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delegates.nteu.org.au