And we’re off! EB9 process underway
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 124 No 1, 15 February 2019, page no. 11
The EB9 Log of Claims, which was developed following extensive consultation with members at both workplace, branch and area council levels, was endorsed by QTU State Council in November 2018 (see page 12 for the full claim). But what happens now?
Letters sent
Letters to commence bargaining were sent on 30 January to the Education Minister, the Treasurer, the Premier and the Director-General. These address the need to commence bargaining early given the large number of issues to be resolved.
The letters also included copies of the draft Good Faith Bargaining Protocols and draft affidavit in relation to equal remuneration which is a requirement of legislation.
The QTU noted the intention to apply for scope orders to include Senior Guidance Officers and Regional Sports Officers into the Teaching in State Education Award – State 2016 and the removal of Community Education Counsellors from the said Award.
Finally, the letter requested that the outcome of the bargaining process be a bargaining award rather than a certified agreement.
What’s a bargaining award?
Many of the certified agreements in the state government’s agencies are occupationally-based agreements which have followed the traditional occupational awards rather than being agency or enterprise wide agreements. Rather than having two very similar industrial instruments covering the same group of employees, similar in content, all agreed conditions and wage increases would be rolled into one award by consent – the bargaining award. Scheduled wage increases will occur over the period of the award and the nominal expiry date of the award, in a manner similar to a certified agreement.
A bargaining award could simplify the procedural arrangements of maintaining two documents containing the wages and conditions of employment of the same employees.
One of the key priorities for EB9 is PPCR - where is that up to?
As committed to in the current Department of Education and Training State School Teachers’ Certified Agreement 2016, the Promotional Positions Classification Review (PPCR) was completed at the end of 2018.
The objective of the review was to inform negotiations during enterprise bargaining negotiations.
The PPCR report offers three options for principal classification structures (and related structures for other promotional positions) based on all the information gathered. It is important to note that the report is a department document. The QTU has contributed to it but does not agree or endorse all of the comments. There are no salaries attached to classifications. That is a matter for EB negotiations.
Possible classification structures
The development of potential future classification structures was the final main component of the review.
Options provided in the report were created by first focusing on developing a classification structure for principals. Other promotional positions were then aligned, based on the relativities considered appropriate, using information collected in the other review stages.
The potential classification structure options can be grouped into three broad approaches with structures that use:
- Option 1: Standard enrolment thresholds for each band/level which are reduced depending on the level of school complexity.
- Option 2: Standard enrolment thresholds for each band/level plus an additional salary loading based on the complexity score.
- Option 3: Structure based on thresholds of total recurrent resources managed (staffing, grants NOT property or assets) with complexity issues addressed through higher resource allocations to schools.
Decisions about the promotional position classification structure, and associated wages, will be the subject of negotiations during bargaining.
What should I be doing?
Achieving a positive outcome from enterprise bargaining negotiations requires the willingness of members to be involved in the campaign. Look for Facebook and web posts focusing on the key elements of the claim (commencing late February/early March) and participate in any of the activities as the negotiations progress.