Branches

Members at the Worksite

NTEU Branches consist of members employed at or in connection with an institution. Members elect a Branch Committee and Branch Officers, and hold General Meetings, which set a Branch fee for membership.

BRANCH COMMITTEE

• Branch Officers
• Branch Committee Members
• Indigenous representative

National Councillors are also elected by each Branch but are not automatically part of the Branch Committee under the rules.

Sections must be established once membership reaches a threshold – usually 20+ members. This has been important, as NTEU has extended its coverage to represent all staff at all higher education institutions. This allows section specific positions as part of the Branch committee. This includes Vice-President (Academic) and Vice-President (General Staff) as well as a number of section positions for general committee positions if the committee has more than nine members.The number of sectional positions can range from one for each section to three for each section depending upon the size of the Branch. Importantly the positions of President and Secretary are not sectionalised. All members of the NTEU at the site elect the Branch Executive Committee.

The Branch can also enact by-laws to govern their affairs as long as such by-laws are not inconsistent with NTEU Rules and NTEU Policy. Where there is only one Branch, or where there are only one or two Branches with relatively small membership, the Division can act as the main body. Since there are only two branches in Tasmania – University of Tasmania and the Australian Maritime College - Tasmanian members work under a specific rule that means that the Division Councilis the body that brings members together. This allows the Union to act effectively when there is little difference between the Branch and the Division. Originally the Northern Territory also combined the Branch and Division, but now that NTEU is organising at a number of Institutions outside the University (Batchelor and Menzies Research Institute) there will be the need for aseparation between the Branch and Division.

Branches usually employ administrative staff and have an office at the institution in higher education. Smaller Branches and specialised sectors often have a more direct relationship with the Division or National Office - e.g. members in Adult Education, TAFE, Research Institutes and RACGP. Branches also use resources provided by Division and National Office to employ recruitment staff. Branches also create delegate structures and sub-committees to support the work of the Branch.

Some Branches pay time release for Branch Officers.

A general meeting of all members at the site sets the Branch fee.

KEY POSITIONS FOR ELECTION

• Branch Officers
• Branch Committee Members
• National Councillors (to represent the Branch at Division and National levels)

Branch positions are elected every two years (some Branches hold elections every year).National Councillor positions are elected every two years.

If you would like to make contact with your local NTEU Branch, click here.