Requirement for teachers who were at 2.8 last year to have to do 12 months at 2.9 as part of their eligibility for Senior Teacher Status. We have had many enquiries on this issue. Teachers will have to complete 12 months at 2.9 to be eligible for senior teacher status. However, the following should be borne in mind:
Tony Mullen
May 19, 2011
CTP & RTS Sick Leave [GA 2008 Clause 37.7 and Clause 42.4]: Members in CTP or RTS schools who have accessed sick leave are encouraged to check with their administration to ensure sick leave is being taken from the right source. If not, you should be seeking re-imbursement of this leave. If you have a problem at this point, please contact Member Assist (have relevant documents/evidence ready before you phone please).
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT – Union has filed in the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission (WAIRC) against DoE’s attempts to stop relief funding from instructional duties for teaching staff. As reported in the SSTUWA eSTREAM News on the 18 April 2011, the Union has taken action against the unilateral attempt of the DoE to stop the on-going funding for relief of teaching staff from instructional hours so to enable them to attend performance management meetings.
Union Reps, please ensure that you are familiar with Award Clause 61. This clause describes your role and conditions which should be available to you including paid time off to do your duties – Clause 61 (5) (a). Workload Advisory Committees. These committees are designed to assist schools to work collaboratively to resolve workload issues. It is a requirement of the Agreement that they are set up. See General Agreement Clause 57 Workload + Schedule J for operation details.
SALARY INCREASE: This fortnight’s pay will include the final across the board salary increase arising out of the 2008 General. The increase is 4%. Union Reps /Worksite Contacts are requested to take the time to draw this fact to the attention of all staff and to acknowledge members in particular who have invested in many ways to bring this gain to all Department employees who work under the 2008 General Agreement.
COMMUNITY KINDERGARTENS If you are a school with a Community Kindergarten attached please advise the Union Office via
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- SUBJECT: Community Kindergartens – attention PRESIDENT. Recently the Department has expanded its ‘behaviour centres’. In doing so, a number of these centres were re-classified as schools.
RTS & INTERNAL RELIEF PAYMENTS : As per clause 41, an RTS teacher may be required to provide up to 50% of DOTT for internal relief. Beyond the 50% there is an entitlement to claim internal relief payments [prior to 2008 there was no eligibility for internal relief]. Member concerns have been raised as to whether any procedures are in place for such tracking. The Union has sought clarification from the Director General as to what instructions and tracking mechanisms have been put in place by DoE and expect a response shortly.
DOTT: Members are reminded that quantum’s of time should be such as to enable tasks undertaken in this time to be completed. Small quantum’s such 10 minutes are not reasonable. Arrangements should not be made for DOTT to be taken prior to school start, during recess breaks or in “early close” time. New Educators are advised that release to attend PLI Graduates modules should not be taking away from the graduate release time [0.5 per week] provided to teachers in their first year of teaching.
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT: The Department’s policy is UNDER REVIEW currently. The draft policy is out for consultation with various bodies. Copies of such draft policy may be in schools. The Union is currently analysing the draft policy with a view of ensuring that the performance management process retains its integrity and fairness for all of our members. To this end, the union is in the process of starting consultation with DoE on the draft policy.
SALARY INCREASES: 2008 GA Schedule B Transition Arrangements for salary Increments – [February 2010] pg 106 red book. This has resulted in: A renaming of the salary levels e.g. old L1.6 is now L2.1. L 2.6 is a new increment inserted into the middle of the salary scale. NOTE: teachers who were permanent employees when the Agreement was registered [16 December 2008] on the old scale at L1.7, L1.8 or L2.1 will be entitled to “jump over new L2.6 and straight to L2.7”
In this Implementation Update, the first for 2010, topics include the upcoming Salary Increases, New Educator Entitlements, Genetal Agreement Implementaion and also advise relating to Interim or Inter-Semester Reports. Union Reps and members are urged to take the opportunity to celebrate this gain at the worksite. A gain achieved through the hard work, commitment and action of our Union and its members.
