Our reps
We strive to educate our Chapter Representatives through our Reps training. We reached almost 230 this year and all vowed to implement some of what they learned. We held a course exclusively for early childhood members which, while small in numbers, gives us something to build on in coming years.
Our sixth Activists Conference held over Easter attracted 16 activists and potential activists, further cementing itself into our calendar of permanent and worthy events.
Women’s forums
An extensive range of successful forums were held around the Branch. The BOLD initiative grew further from its origins in 2017 culminating in a second conference at Manly in August.
As a Union representing more than 70% women, we have a responsibility to be at the vanguard of promoting issues like gender equity, equal pay, paid domestic violence leave, opposition to sexual (and other) harassment and secure work.
Child protection support
A significant role for the Union is in assisting members to respond to Child Protection allegations which often lack enough specific detail to allow a meaningful reply. Where investigations are delayed or substandard, it adds to the stress and inconvenience of members often adding financial pressure through loss of income.
A number of employers have built for themselves a reputation for denying access or timely access to investigation files hiding behind privacy or public interest defenses but effectively refusing natural justice to our members. The capacity for members to defend themselves against allegations is entirely reliant on access to the purported evidence.
Publications
For almost 40 years, a key part of the Union’s communication strategy has been our flagship Newsmonth. Coupled with the older journal Independent Education, these publications have broadcast our industrial and professional views far and wide. Although hard copy periodicals continue to play a valuable role, the immediacy of electronic communications through web, email and social media is quickly taking over as the way members stay informed.
Responsive to member demands, our communications team has been experimenting with a range of delivery options with the first and last Newsmonth editions each year delivered only by electronic means. An increasing number of members have elected to suppress hard copy and opt only for online delivery. The current paper editions will be dispatched in a more environmentally friendly biodegradable wrap.
Partnerships
We have established and fostered partnerships with a range of organisations with whom we have close synergy over many years. NGS, Teachers Mutual Bank, Teachers Health Fund and Union Shopper are but a few. We are actively aligned with the Workers Health Centre and Welfare Rights. This year we added the Member Advantage card to our suite of offerings to provide a digital membership card and additional discount opportunities for members.
Teacher exchange
As always, the most exciting member benefit is teacher exchange and this year, just shy of our 35th year of teacher exchange,18 members had that chance. Council frequently gets to meet and hear from some of those from foreign shores who exchange to Australia. Postcards from abroad feature in Newsmonth and many of us lament that we don’t have the opportunity or courage to take up that opportunity.
Recruitment and retention
The lifeblood of any member based organisation are its rank and file. It is imperative that we nurture and retain our existing members and recruit to our numbers those new to the profession and to our sector. We experience significant employment churn and if we are to legitimately be the voice of non government education, we must not only maintain our existing membership but grow our density.
Recruitment, retention and organising are part of our core business and we must never be afraid of being innovative, of trying new things to build our membership and our capacity.
Since 2015 over 16,300 new members have joined, 2700 this year. That is more than half our membership. A little more than that have retired or resigned.
What we can see from these numbers is that there is nothing wrong with our recruitment strategy. We are certainly doing something right but almost 50% of our members are over 50 and only a small percentage under 30.
To all our members who volunteer to serve as Chapter Representatives or on Chapter Committees, on our internal committees or who represent us on other bodies, I offer sincere thanks and appreciation. I also acknowledge the contribution of our Executive and Council and to IEU staff.
Finally, to those I work most closely with I pay tribute. I’ll retire as Secretary in a few days as will Deputy Secretary Gloria Taylor. I want to put on record my admiration and appreciation for all she has done for me in the more than three decades we have worked together in various roles.
Gloria has dealt with the good, the bad and the ugly in her career with the Union and with me. She has been positive and cheerful when really, she had no reason to be and her strength of character in the face of adversity is beyond remarkable. Gloria has been a superb Deputy Secretary.
Year in review continues in Changing of the guard >>>