Teachers and Educators Collective Bargaining
Update # 13

School Support Staff

On 1 November 2007 the AEU NT Branch lodged further claims in relation to School Support Officers including staff who work as para-professionals in government school classrooms.

Education support workers in all government schools and workplaces are a vital part of every school community.  In June 2006 the AEU acquired coverage** of a range of education support officers in government schools.  AEU coverage of school support staff has increased to cover all full time, part time or casual employees of DEET, School Councils and externally funded positions if they work with teachers in classrooms. In remote and regional government schools this includes all staff in support roles. 

The AEU-NT already covers the employment and conditions of Assistant Teachers, AIEWs,  Tutors, Special Education Assistants, Inclusion Support Assistants, Library and Language workers, ITAS tutors, Home Liaison officers.

We claim that these workers in our schools, who are often employed on casual verbal contracts,  have unacceptable levels of job security.  In particular,  where school staff are on CDEP and only receive some DEET or DEST funding  for a proportion of their wages/salary, we will campaign for appropriate translation to permanent part-time or full-time employment and training programs

The distinct needs of NT Public Service and casual support staff in schools are not being recognised and have been poorly addressed by previous Enterprise Bargaining Agreements for Teachers and Educators and NT Public Sector Agreements.

We have proposed to the NT Government and the collective bargaining negotiators that recurrent NT Government funding be allocated during the life of the next Collective Union Agreement for Teachers and Educators to address the following points: -

1.          CDEP and ex CDEP employees in “real jobs” on part payment from DEET or DEST working in Government Schools in the NT be assisted in transition to equivalent permanent NT Public Sector (Teachers & Educators ) positions at their  level; and that training be available to encourage career paths.

2.         Introduction of a new School Support Officer (SSO) Classification schedule for permanent, part-time, school based conditions and a career path for all current casual, contract and permanent staff included in the classifications identified in the 2002 – 2006 Teaching Support Officer Review.
Current 2007 salary commencements from NTPS/T&E Certified Agreements – qualification barriers and increment levels for Certificate I, II, III and IV to be determined.

3.          An Indigenous Workforce Strategy in Government Schools and workplaces which incorporates pro-rata  incentives, including access for all Indigenous Assistant Teachers and SSOs   to remote locality housing.

4.          Casual School Support Staff on external funding be treated the same as professional officers in the NT Public Service who are employed subject to external funding.

5.          SESO classification employees to have equivalent Emergency Relief cover for days absent to that of teaching staff, and be entitled to  Special Education Teaching Assistant Allowance pro rata.

6.          All positions in the new SSO classification be subject to annual review and on request be assessed for reclassification using the JES

** Decision of SD President Lacy AIRC June  2006   www.airc.gov.au/decisionssigned/html/PR961459.htm

*** Remuneration increments to be agreed for all SSO classifications where Professional Upgrades and completion of accredited training are completed.

THE AEU-NT BRANCH IS COMMITED TO SUPPORTING THE EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT OF SUPPORT STAFF IN SCHOOLS, HOMELAND CENTRES and ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS