Changes to priority statusOctOber 6 will see the introduction of key changes to

priority status and advertisement of positions, ready for the start of term 4.

Staff who are currently in excess, or declared so from this time on, will continue to receive priority for interview for positions they apply for, but will then go into a merit-based selection process against all other applicants.

From the start of term 4, schools will be required to advertise all jobs, other than genuine casual vacancies of 30 days or less. this means all employees, particularly those in excess, will have access to many more positions that were previously not “visible” on recruitment Online.

Jobs advertised from the start of term 4 will be listed under the new classification structures, ie. Level 1 or Level 2 teacher instead of Graduate, Accomplished or expert. this also applies to new employment arrangements for eS (positions no longer advertised as “52/52” or “48/52”).

redeployment/career transition support will also be available from the start of term 4. this will be available to existing excess staff and for staff declared in excess from this time. this will be welcome and important help for individual members looking to secure positions in new schools. Further details will be released when these support arrangements are finalised. �

— Meredith Peace

Meredith Peace AEU branch president

YOur newsletter this month highlights the key issues sub-branches and members need to be aware of in

regard to the new Agreement as schools head into this significant period of end-of-year planning.

Our additional election Special focuses on the Gonski funding reforms and the stark differences between the major parties’ policies when it comes to education.

We are also in the midst of eS Month. I hope our

teachers and principals have taken the opportunity to recognise the contribution of their eS colleagues during August.

Important changes under the VGSA 2013 come into effect from the start of term 4. It is essential that all members make themselves aware of any possible consequences. this is no more so than for our eS members, along with those currently in excess or deemed so during term 4.

this year’s federal election campaign is critical

for public education, our schools and our students. the hard-won Gonski funding reforms will finally enable schools to provide the support and programs our students need and deserve. but a coalition government would put these vital reforms at risk.

When you enter that ballot box on September 7, remember that your vote will have an influence on the future funding of our schools.

Vote 1 education. �

The AEU is a strong campaigning union and this is no more evident than right now, with the federal election campaign in full swing and the implementation of the VGSA 2013 at an important stage.

Important changes aheadSUPPLEMENT TO THE AEU NEWS • AUGUST 2013

A E U h e a d o f f i c e 112 Tr e n e r r y C r e s c e n t , A b b o t s f o r d 3 0 6 7 Te l : 0 3 9 417 2 8 2 2 Fa x : 13 0 0 6 5 8 0 7 8 We b : w w w. a e u v i c . a s n . a u

SECONDARY SECTORNEWSLETTER

Consultation deadline nearsSub-branches need to start negotiating consultation arrangements now to meet the September 1 deadline.

Erin Aulich vice president, secondary

cOnSuLtAtIOn is a central part of the VGSA 2013 and provides members with the oppor-

tunity to have input into decision-making at the school level.

Schools must inform the Department by September 1 that consultation processes are in place for the coming year. this requires agreement on the structure or composition of the committee and a clear set of agreed opera-tional procedures. It is crucial that sub-branches start the process negotiating these arrange-ments at the school.

the committee structure must include Aeu, staff and principal representatives, and may include any groups within the school that it is felt require specific representation.

the operational procedures must also be agreed upon. this includes a clear meeting schedule and suitable meeting procedures, such

as timely distribu-tion of the agenda prior to the meeting, agreed processes for adding items to the agenda and a suitable record of the actions or outcomes of meetings.

It is essential for the agreed operational procedures to identify the process and timing for committee members to consult with and canvass the views of the people they represent.

We will soon be sending out the VGSA 2013 Implementation Guide, which will provide more detailed advice for members about the process and changes to school-based consultation. �

the new Agreement will for the first time provide a simple, single

model of employment for all eS staff. We will no longer have to struggle through the confusing language of “48/52” and “52/52” and school year employees.

the new model entitles all eS employees to 10 weeks of paid leave, made up of four weeks of annual leave and six weeks of additional leave.

At the start of a new period of employment, or at any time by mutual agreement, the school can purchase some or all of an eS employee’s addi-tional leave. this is paid at the rate of 72.47% of the employee’s daily rate of pay for each day worked. this additional salary is called the “leave purchase allowance”.

current 52/52 eS employees translate to the new Agreement with the full amount of leave purchased by the school (six weeks), so their

salaries remain equivalent to the 52/52 rate.

School holidays will no longer be a mix of leave and non-attendance time. this means a significant change to some practices — in particular to recall and time in lieu (tIL).

eS can still be required to work for up to six days in any two holiday periods; however, these days worked must now be paid using the leave purchase allowance.

Any request by a school for an eS employee to work these additional days must now be made during what would be the eS employee’s leave, therefore must be compensated for with additional salary at the rate of 72.47%.

this is a great outcome for eS members, meaning they get paid if they are required to work.

Time in lieueS members are entitled to time in

lieu (tIL) for all work required by their employer beyond their normal hours of attendance. In many schools there has been a practice of offsetting this tIL time against the six days of recall. under the VGSA 2013 this will not be

possible and all tIL accrued will need to be compensated for in equivalent time off or paid as additional hours. �

— erin Aulich vice president, secondary

ES employment changes simplify the system

Check your payMake sure you check your payslips for August 8 and 22, as these pay packets should include the $1000 bonus and backpay for the period retrospectively to April 7.

If you are concerned that you have not received these payments, or have received incorrect amounts, check with your school. If you don’t get a suitable response, please contact the Aeu on 03 9417 2822 for assistance.

New rates for CRTscrt rates have increased in line with the new Agreement.

the Minister has finally signed off on Ministerial Order 691, which amends Ministerial Order 200 and provides improved rates of pay for casual relief teachers employed as School council employees.

As with the Schools Agreement, further pay rises will occur in two separate rises every year, one in February and another in August. the increases to the crt rates are significantly greater than the 2.5% originally offered by the Government.

All schools should have been paying the increased rates from July 29, 2013.the Aeu is now contacting crt agencies to inform them of the pay

rise and the expectation that they will increase rates of pay accordingly. It is crucial that crt members also enquire about how their agencies are planning to implement the increases. � — erin Aulich vice president, secondary

CRT INCREASESDate % increase CRT daily rate CRT hourly rate

2/01/2011 $256.80 $42.80

1/01/2012 2.726% $263.80 $43.97

29/07/2013 2.641% $270.80 45.13

1/02/2014 1.034% $273.60 45.60

1/08/2014 3.545% $283.30 47.22

1/02/2015 0.212% $283.90 47.32

1/08/2015 3.311% $293.30 48.88

2 Secondary newsletter | august 2013

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