NO SUPERVISION WITHOUT A TEACHER PRESENT & NO PARTICIPATION AS YOU JEOPARDISE THEIR ACTION & RISK FINES

CPSU members should be aware of the stop work action being undertaken by Teachers today Thursday 14th February under the Federal Workplace Relations Act as part of Enterprise Bargaining negotiations for their next Teacher Agreement.

As the Teacher’s stop work action covers many areas of interface with our SSO members the following is advised;

DEECD has advised that it will not issue directions to any CPSU member to undertake the work that is part of the Enterprise Bargaining dispute with the AEU and falls within protected action pursuant to the Workplace Relations Act.  In our SSO Agreement supervision of children is confined to special circumstances, if it is integral to your job, and it must be done under the care, guidance and supervision of a teacher.

Administrative work normally done by teachers is also NOT part of usual duties of SSO’s.

Any member who is asked to undertake any such work or is pressured into undertaking such work MUST contact CPSU Industrial Information Officer Mark Sartori on as a matter of urgency.

What if My School Closes?

This would be a significant effect, and CPSU has asked the Department to clarify what leave you would be advised to take as a result of this.  DO NOT UNDERTAKE STUDENT SUPERVISION TASKS.

The Effect of Work Choices

SSO’s must not take action with their teacher colleagues on 14 February 2008.  If SSO’s do take stop work action they risk being fined as any participation would be considered a “Secondary Boycott” under federal law and is illegal.  Work Choices prohibits other workers whose employment conditions are contained under a different Agreement from supporting a teacher colleague.  If SSO’s join in, it could derail the Teacher’s action, and could undermine the protected nature of their stop work action.

CPSU advises members, both SSO’s and SSSO’s, not to join in the action.

What can I Do if I am asked to take over a Teachers’ duties?
Pressure is often put on SSO’s to undertake the duties that teachers normally do.  CPSU does not support SSO’s undertaking duties of supervision they would not normally do to support management against Teachers.  In our SSO Agreement, supervision of children is confined to special circumstances, if it is integral to your job, and it must be done under the care, guidance and supervision of a teacher.  If these conditions cannot be fulfilled and you are being pressured to supervise students in a way you wouldn’t normally do then please call CPSU.

SSO’s may not be able to take action in support of teachers because of Work Choices but neither can SSO’s or SSSO’s be forced to take action that undermines them.  If you have any doubts about the situation or need help call CPSU on 03 9639 1822 and speak to one of our expert Industrial Officers for more information.

TOGETHER WE DO BETTER!
http://www.cpsuvic.org/public_docs/Work-Can-Change-membership-flyer.pdf
http://www.cpsuvic.org/public_docs/memform.pdf


KAREN BATT
CPSU Victorian Branch Secretary