Consultation - Get Ticked Off!

This is the time of year when SSOs have an opportunity to negotiate the sort of consultation with their leadership group that suits the conditions at their school before Principals can tick the DEECD questionnaire with a clear conscience.

Principals must tick a box in a DEECD questionnaire saying whether or not they have agreed with their SSOs on procedures to consult with SSOs for the next 12 months.

According to the SSO Agreement 2004, SSOs Consultative Committees deal with issues arising from their work and are not to be imposed, but agreed between the parties.

If no arrangements have been made by the 1st of September, a default committee structure has been agreed between CPSU and the Department.

Schools must adopt this default position while acceptable solutions are being negotiated.

The SSO Agreement 2004 quotes Commissioner Smith:

‚Äö?Ñ??Consultation is not perfunctory advice on what is about to happen. This is common misconception. Consultation is providing the individual, or other relevant persons, with a bona fide opportunity to influence the decision maker‚Äö?Ѭ?Consultation is not joint decision-making or even a negative or frustrating barrier to the prerogative of management to make decisions. Consultation allows the decision making process to be informed, particularly as it may affect the employment prospects of individuals.

The SSO Agreement also states that; ‚Äö?Ñ??The consultative arrangements must provide for the opportunity for direct union input at the school level.‚Äö?Ñ??

It is also important that workplace representatives are provided with the opportunity and time to canvass the views of staff to ensure informed consultation can occur on matters set out in our SSO Agreement.

The consultative procedures must include arrangements that enable this to occur.

Then and only then can your school Principal tick the box with a clear conscience!

If SSOs are not happy with the way their school consults with them, then this is the time of year when they have the opportunity to make a difference.

The consultative arrangements are to be used about long term planning and operation of the school, including days of attendance required of 48/52 and school year employees during the school holidays.

As part of the consultative arrangements the Employer should make sure that planning information is available to staff and such information should include;

- School charter goals and priorities (or their equivalent);
- High level school global budget data as agreed between the parties, and
- Anticipated enrolments and staff movements.

Get your fellow employees and your Principal to set up a committee that meets regularly and represents all work streams, to discuss important SSO issues.

CONSULTATION ABOUT YOUR JOB - IT S AN SSO RIGHT & YOUR PRINCIPAL S RESPONSIBILITY.

If you are having trouble with this at your school call CPSU on 03 9639 1822 or email ghughes@cpsuvic.org.

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

23 July 2008