TAFE EB10 Bulletin no. 19, 13 September 2019
EB10: Frequently asked questions
Why have I not received any materials for the ballot?
Where can I find detailed information on the offer ?
When will the $1,250 bonus be received?
How long will the certification process take?
Why are there greater salary increases at the start of the salary schedule?
How do teachers transition to LVT and senior teacher?
What is happening to the LVT classification?
What does grandparenting mean?
How can I have my temporary employment status reviewed?
Why do non-members benefit from QTU industrial action?
How can I be more involved in Union decision making and the next round of bargaining?
Why have I not received any materials for the ballot?
Members are strongly encouraged to check in with colleagues to make sure that they are aware that the ballot is open until 5:00pm on Wednesday, 18 September and that eligible members participate in the ballot.
QTU TAFE Executive recommends voting YES in the ballot.
The QTU has sent an email to all QTU TAFE Division members who are eligible to cast a vote in the ballot. Members who have not received their ballot email can:
- check email settings that might have assigned the email from the QTU to junk mail
- check both work and personal email accounts - the QTU email will have been sent to the member’s nominated preferred account
- contact the QTU on 1300 11 7823 or tafe@qtu.asn.au - have your name and member number handy and request a fresh secure link be sent to you.
Where can I find detailed information on the offer ?
Members are strongly encouraged to check in with colleagues to make sure that they are aware that the ballot is open until 5:00pm on Wednesday, 18 September and that eligible members participate in the ballot.
QTU TAFE Executive recommends voting YES in the ballot.
The QTU has sent an email to all QTU TAFE Division members who are eligible to cast a vote in the ballot. Members who have not received their ballot email can:
- check email settings that might have assigned the email from the QTU to junk mail
- check both work and personal email accounts - the QTU email will have been sent to the member’s nominated preferred account
- contact the QTU on 1300 11 7823 or tafe@qtu.asn.au - have your name and member number handy and request a fresh secure link be sent to you.
When will the $1,250 bonus be received?
The one-off payment of $1,250 was not part of TAFE Queensland’s revised offer to the unions prior to QTU TAFE Division members’ engagement in the 24 hour stop work. It was included in TAFE Queensland’s formal offer that was tabled on 2 September.
The one-off payment of $1,250 (pro-rata for part-time and casual employees) will be payable in the first pay period following the certification the new agreement by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission.
How long will the certification process take?
Should QTU members determine to accept the revised offer, TAFE Queensland is required to conduct its own ballot of all employees to be covered by the agreement. This would occur after the final draft of the proposed agreement has been concluded by the negotiators and the proposed agreement is published for members to consider. If the revised offer is accepted by members in both ballots, the employer is required to lodge the new agreement with the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission for certification (approval) before the agreement can be put into effect. We anticipate that this will occur some time in November or early December.
After the agreement is certified, educators will receive back-pay to 1 July 2019 and eligible employees will receive a one-off payment of $1,250 (pro-rata for part-time and casual employees).
Why are there greater salary increases at the start of the salary schedule?
The QTU negotiated the inclusion of annual progression as an entitlement of TAFE Queensland educators who are covered by the TAFE Queensland Award – State 2016. Employees commencing the new agreement at a lower pay point will accrue the benefits of salary increases as well as the benefits of annual progression. Employees at or near the top of the relevant salary scale have fewer increases throughout the life of the new agreement. For example, an LVT 2 will have one increment of annual progression to LVT 3, then in year four will increment to the new increased LVT 3 pay point.
To achieve salaries that are comparable with interstate colleagues, the QTU negotiated new salary horizons for tutor, teacher, and lead vocational teacher. This means that educators employed on these classifications will benefit from annual percentage increases as well as at least one additional increment over the life of the new agreement.
How do teachers transition to LVT and senior teacher?
There are no changes to the process for applying to become a lead vocational teacher (LVT).
The new senior teacher classification (steps 1 and 2) will commence from 1 January 2020, and senior teacher step 3 will commence from 1 January 2022. Progression to senior teacher requires possession of an approved teaching qualification. The duties to be performed by a senior teacher should not be so frequent or onerous as to detract from the senior teacher’s primary role as a teacher, and should include providing professional development, leading validation activities, coordinating audit activities, quality checks of completed assessments, and mentoring or coaching.
What is happening to the LVT classification?
The revised salary structure results in changes to the LVT classification from 1 January 2022. LVT 1 will be removed from the salary structure at this time and that pay point effectively becomes the new senior teacher 3.
For clarity, there is no disadvantage. No QTU member will receive a reduced salary.
Rather, at this time, the LVT 2 and 3 steps are recategorised as LVT1 and 2 respectively. Then, from 1 January 2023, the new LVT 3 will be available and people with in excess of 12 months at LVT 2 will increment up to the new classification. In effect, compared to the current structure, the new LVT 3 is an LVT 4.
Attachment 1 to TAFE Queensland’s offer sets out the transition steps and timeline.
There is also an LVT tab on the QTU’s EB10 webpage www.qtu.asn.au/eb10
What is happening to tutor 5?
The introduction of the new senior tutor classification (steps 1 and 2) means that there will be no new appointments to tutor step 5 from 1 January 2020. Educators who are currently employed at tutor step 5 will be grandparented at this step from 1 January 2020 until such time as they leave their tutoring employment at TAFE Queensland. Grandparented tutor 5 employees will receive a 2.5 per cent wage increase on 1 July each year for the period of the replacement agreement.
What does grandparenting mean?
A grandparenting clause is a term used to apply to conditions that no longer apply or that are being phased out. Grandparenting clauses are typically used to protect the conditions of roles that are no longer available to new employees.
Grandparenting arrangements are already in place for employees who are principal teachers. There are no new appointments to this classification, however educators who are principal teachers continued to be employed with the pay and conditions of a principal teacher.
Grandparenting arrangements will continue to apply for principal teachers.
How can I have my temporary employment status reviewed?
The QTU campaign for improved access to permanent employment has resulted in TAFE Queensland offering to establish a sub-committee, with QTU representation, that will resolve any matters brought forward by unions where it is believed that TAFE Queensland has not followed the process outlined in the Temporary Employment Review section of the Human Resources and Workforce Management Manual. The sub-committee will review cases presented by unions and employees in the period October to December.
The QTU will call for financial members of the QTU to contact the Union in the coming weeks.
Why do non-members benefit from QTU industrial action?
This is always a source of frustration for QTU members, but it is worth noting that QTU member action was a significant factor in achieving the additional one-off payment of $1,250.
We also know that the salary gains that the revised offer delivers have only been achieved through months of Union members working with QTU officers in support of the negotiation process. Were it not for the voice of Union members being heard in workplaces, in the meetings of the single bargaining unit, and all the way to the Minister’s Office, the initial response of the employer was fixed salary increases of 2.5 per cent per annum.
Now is a great opportunity to have the conversation in workplaces, in teams and with colleagues about the strength of unions in the contemporary workplace, and to encourage your colleagues to become financial members of the QTU. New members can join online at: www.qtu.asn.au/join
How can I be more involved in Union decision making and the next round of bargaining?
The QTU will commence consultation with members for the next round of bargaining in 2022. Until that time, we will be working with members and branches to ensure TAFE Queensland delivers on its commitments set out in the formal offer tabled on 2 September.
The QTU welcomes members' activism at the local level. There are vacancies for QTU Representatives at all of the TAFE campuses. To express your interest in becoming a Workplace Representative, contact tafe@qtu.asn.au
All QTU TAFE Division members can attend local branch meetings. Talk to your Workplace Representative for the details of your next branch meeting, or contact tafe@qtu.asn.au
All QTU TAFE branches elect delegates to the statewide QTU TAFE Council, which meets four times a year at the QTU’s Milton Office. There are also other opportunities to be elected by members to represent the QTU on a range of local, state, or national bodies that the QTU is affiliated with. To express your interest, contact our QTU Organiser David Terauds in the Milton Office via email at tafe@qtu.asn.au or phone (07) 3512 9000.
Authorised by Kate Ruttiman, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers' Union
21 Graham Street, Milton, QLD, Australia, 4064
