TAFE EB10 Bulletin No. 1, 8 March 2019
The QTU will be providing regular EB Bulletins to report on negotiations. This first bulletin provides an overview of enterprise bargaining, the QTU’s EB10 log of claims, and ways to stay informed.
What is the role of the QTU in enterprise bargaining?
The QTU is the industrial representative of TAFE educators and conducts negotiations for a replacement certified agreement on behalf of members.
The collective voice of QTU members, employed as TAFE educators throughout Queensland, grows louder with each new member. If you have a colleague who is not yet a member of the QTU, let them know that the power of solidarity is vital in EB negotiations. Click here to join online.
The QTU is member driven organisation, that is why QTU members elect branch officers including rank and file representation on TAFE Council. Throughout the EB10 process the QTU negotiating team will be consulting with branches and members through TAFE Council.
Why is EB important to QTU members?
EB is the common abbreviation for enterprise bargaining, and the QTU is about to commence bargaining with TAFE Queensland for a replacement TAFE Queensland Educators Certified Agreement. The current agreement has a nominal expiry date of 30 June 2019.
The intention of EB10 is to secure a pay rise and improved working conditions for QTU members employed as TAFE educators prior to this date.
Who does the TAFE Queensland Educators Certified Agreement apply to?
All QTU members who are employed by TAFE Queensland as educators are covered by the certified agreement. More specifically, the certified agreement applies to:
- TAFE Queensland - obligating the employer on matters like consultation
- employees - prescribing such matters as team-based working arrangements
- employee organisations – that includes the QTU, which can represent employees in dispute resolution processes.
What happens if TAFE Queensland does not reach agreement with the QTU?
Chapter 4 of the Industrial Relations Act, 2016 provides for good faith bargaining by employers, like TAFE Queensland, and employees, represented by their union, to reach agreement on wages and working conditions. In the event that the parties are unable to reach agreement, the same chapter also sets out arbitration and conciliation processes with the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission.
What is included in the QTU’s EB10 log of claims?
The QTU began EB10 consultation with members and branches in 2018. TAFE Council participated in workshops at three of its 2018 meetings, and delegates provided a survey to members at their respective branch meetings. The surveys were returned to the QTU and were used to shape the EB10 log of claims.
Workload management was deemed the priority issue, followed by consultation and then programming (i.e. yearly plans, delivery timetables, team-based working arrangements).
The QTU log of claims appears on the QTU website (member access only) and is grouped into ten categories that include:
- workload management
- consultation
- programming
- gender employment equity
- permanency
- class sizes
- professional issues
- non-attendance time
- other matters
- salaries.
How can I be involved in EB10?
Dates and venues for QTU branch meetings are advertised at www.qtu.asn.au/tafe Scroll down and click the “branch meetings” tab.
The QTU will also be providing regular updates to members in the form of EB 10 Bulletins.
How does this impact on CQU members?
The current round of enterprise bargaining does not impact directly on CQU members, because CQU members are covered by the Central Queensland University Enterprise Agreement, which has a nominal expiry date of 30 June 2021. However, there will be matters arising from EB10 negotiations that may have relevance to future CQU negotiations. Such matters will be reported to CQU members at local branch meetings.
Authorised by Kate Ruttiman, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers' Union
21 Graham Street, Milton, QLD, Australia, 4064