SSO Bulletin - negotiations update

The AEU Branch Council met Friday August 8 and heard a report on the SSO negotiations that have been occurring weekly since February this year and although they began slowly recent meetings have been very productive.

Salaries remain the biggest impasse and the AEU negotiators are committed to gaining more than the government offer. Council was told that the Government's position of 3.25% salary increase remains unchanged.
Despite this, there has been meaningful progress in the key areas of consultation, contract employment, classification structure and the dimensions of work
Many of the concerns that face SSOs were also of concern to our teachers. They include the abuse of contracts, which affect SSOs in much higher numbers and ineffective consultation processes. The AEU won improvements to these areas in the teachers' agreement and is confident that these will also be gained for SSOs.
AEU teacher members fought a long and determined agreement campaign this year -- with the support of SSOs -- and made significant gains as a result. Similar gains for SSOs are possible on the back of the successful teacher's campaign.
SSOs are a minority in our schools and do not have the same density in membership as their teacher colleagues. Therefore an SSO campaign would present challenges, but members must be prepared to campaign for a just outcome when the need arises.
Regular detailed updates on negotiations are available at regional meetings. Members are also encouraged to invite AEU organises to attend sub branch meetings to provide updates.
Consultation - make sure SSOs are part of the process
As a result of the recent changes to the consultation clause in the VSGA 2008, sub-branches will be meeting to discuss the consultative process at your school. It is important that SSOs are part of those discussions. Sub branches should be referred to Clause 20 in the current SSO 2004 agreement which remains in operation until a new agreement is signed.
A Second SSO Conference
As part of our SSO Week celebrations last week the AEU held a very successful SSO Conference. The conference was booked out in a matter of days, so due to the unprecedented demand we will be holding a second conference on September 17. A program and registration forms will be sent out to members via email and will be available on our Website.
MARY BLUETT
Branch President
KATHRYN LEWIS
SSO Organiser