Workload Advisory Council update no.2, 22 June 2020
The QTU insisted that the Department of Education include a mechanism to address workload in our EB9 negotiations. Establishing the Workload Advisory Council (WAC) was one of the final concessions the department made in last year’s EB9 campaign.
The WAC is like the local consultative committee at your school that includes equal numbers of departmental and QTU representation.
The functions of the WAC are to ensure that the Principles of Good Workload Management, contained in Schedule 6 of the Certified Agreement, are followed and:
- collect information about issues contributing to workload pressures
- monitor emerging workload issues
- inform workload reduction initiatives.
Continued negotiations.
Clause 2.18.5 of the certified agreement prescribed the timelines for submissions to the WAC that were to be made within the first six months following certification of the agreement. However, the COVID-19 pandemic necessarily delayed progress on negotiations for a submission process, and the department agreed to the QTU suggestion that the timelines for submissions be extended. This extension was endorsed by an exchange of letters between the QTU General Secretary and Director-General of Department of Education.
Throughout negotiations for a WAC submission process, the QTU has maintained the need to ensure respect and dignity for our members as you engage in telling the story of workload pressures and recommending workload reduction initiatives.
The QTU did not believe reducing members’ knowledge, experience and recommended workload reduction initiatives to just 1000 characters afforded respect or dignity. The result of QTU advocacy has been in increase in the character limits of any one WAC submission. There are now some questions in the WAC submission process that increase character limits from 1000 to 3500 characters and there is now the option to attach files up to six megabytes in size.
The QTU also believes the WAC submission process should be available to QTU members as well as organised QTU area councils, branches, sub-branches, special interest groups and other formal and informal QTU structures. The QTU maintains that the president of a QTU branch or chair of committee will be able to upload submissions on behalf of an organised group of QTU members.
Submission process
The WAC is now calling for submissions about workload pressures and, crucially, workload reduction initiatives. The first round of submissions will close on midnight 16 August 2020.
To make a submission to the WAC, click here and you will be redirected to the Department of Education’s website.
To make a submission to the WAC or for further information on the QTU’s work with the WAC, members can contact QTAD on 1300 11 7823, or email workload@qtu.asn.au
The QTU is preparing a guide to making a submission to the WAC. The guide and accompanying video will be available on our website soon.
Authorised by Kate Ruttiman, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers' Union
21 Graham Street, Milton, QLD, Australia, 4064
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