RMIT Branch website
Welcome to the NTEU RMIT Branch website.
PUBLIC RALLY 20 NOVEMBER
RMIT Staff and Supporters meet outside the State Library @ 10:30 a.m.
Details of the rally below. More information click here
- Our Universities Matter campaign and Collective Bargaining
- Join the NTEU
- Contact the Branch
- RMIT Branch Delegates
- Committees - get involved!
- RMIT Branch Newsletters
- Workplace Consultative Committee
- Financial Report
- Casual and sessional staff information
- Occupational Health and Safety
Our Universities Matter campaign and Collective Bargaining
Our Universities Matter - Investing in People and Society
In 2008, NTEU will begin a public policy campaign focussing on increased public investment, intellectual freedom and university autonomy. A key feature of the campaign will include pursuing a discrete Universities' Act, to entrench institutional autonomy and academic freedom as central features of a new Funding Act.
Australia’s universities, the vast majority of which are publicly institutions, matter because they are:
* Responsible for educating our future professional and high skilled workforce to improve our productivity and ensure Australia be internationally competitive in an ever increasing knowledge based global economy.
* The primary source of basic or ‘blue sky’ research, as well the educators of our future researchers both of which are critical if Australia is to lift its research and innovation efforts.
* An important community asset in many regional and outer urban areas and not only provide an educational opportunity for students to attend university who might not otherwise do so and provide important research links with local business but they are also often are a centre for regional cultural, social and sporting activities.
In addition to direct benefits that our universities deliver they are also important civic institutions in so far as they contribute to the public debate on many important policy issues. In order for universities to be able to continue their important role as the one of the guardians of our ‘social conscience’ it is essential that the principles of institutional autonomy and free of inquiry are maintained and protected.
NTEU has been, and will and continue to be at, the forefront in promoting and defending our universities.
Collective Bargaining
As part of the Our Universities Matter campaign, NTEU will be negotiating with University Management to make a new workplace agreement. On May 30, along with all other Victorian Branches, the RMIT Branch lodged its Log of Claims on the University. This list of matters to be negotiated with Management include improvements in staffing levels, workload regulation, career progression and the impact of excessive casualisation. A copy of the Log of Claims and an explanatory document can be downloaded below.
Preparing for bargaining
What can you do to help get the best outcome from Collective bargaining at your institution?
- Recruit your Colleagues
Collective bargaining is influenced by the quality of the arguments put forward by each side. But strength of numbers is just as important. The more staff that are in the Union, the stronger the voice of the Union is as the representative of staff. More members = a stronger voice at the bargaining table.
Collective bargaining also takes time and resources. Negotiators usually have another full time job at the University. Research into the finances of the University requires expertise. Simply holding a meeting of members on campus at lunchtime incurs costs. The financial resources of the NTEU come from membership dues. More members = more resources.
Now is the perfect time for your colleagues to join NTEU, and the most potent invitation to join comes from a co-worker. - Elect a Union contact
The collective bargaining process requires communication between members and negotiators for ongoing advice and strategy feedback. A network of NTEU Workplace Bargaining Contacts will be set up early in the process. Talk to your colleagues about ensuring a representative in your area has been identified and contact your local Branch if you are interested in assisting with this network. - Stay informed
NTEU prioritises keeping members informed throughout the collective bargaining process. Your local Branch will produce regular bulletins in the lead up to and during negotiations with Management. National and State bulletins will also give updates on what is happening in other Institutions. NTEU’s national and state journals, The Advocate and Nexus will report regularly on progress made in bargaining. The most immediate source of information about local negotiations will be on your Branch website: http://www.nteu.org.au/bd/rmit . Find the pages dedicated to bargaining and bookmark them.
| Log of Claims | Draft Log of Claims, to be endorsed by RMIT members on 13/14 May |
| RMIT Enterprise Agreement 2005 | This is a link to the official RMIT Enterprise Agreement 2005. |
Join the NTEU
Follow this link to information on joining the NTEU at RMIT
REMEMBER, YOUR UNION FEES ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE
| Table of fees (as of January 2008) | Here you can download an Adobe Acrobat document with a table of fees. |
| Membership forms | Join online or download membership forms |
Contact the Branch
Address: Building 93
22 Cardigan Street
City Campus
Postal Address: 124 La Trobe Street
Melbourne, VIC 3000
Office Hours: Monday to Friday
9.30am-4.30pm
Phone: 992 58057
Fax: 992 58030
Email: nteu@rmit.edu.au
| Branch Executive Protocols | The RMIT NTEU Branch executive has produced a document clarifying the conduct of the executive, and its commitments to NTEU members at RMIT. |
| Branch Committee & Staff Contact Details |
RMIT Branch Delegates
The RMIT-NTEU branch has a strong delegate network.
Many schools and organisational units have a delegate, someone who provides an integral link between members in a local workplace and the branch office.
Are you interested in becoming more involved in the union?
Becoming a delegate, is great way to get involved, at a local level. You don't need a whole lot of experience and the role is a rewarding one. For more information click on the link below to view the Branch Delegate Handbook.
For further information contact the branch on ext 58057 and discuss how you can become more involved.
| All Day Delegates Meeting June 17th 2008 | Delegates all day meeting June 17th 2008 |
| RMIT Delegates network | Click here to view a table with names of the latest RMIT delegate network. The table identifies the portfolio and/or school/org unit, campus, the representing delegate and their contact details. |
| RMIT Delegates Handbook | Downloadable version of the Delegates Handbook prepared by the Branch. |
Committees - get involved!
The Branch has several committees that focus on specific issues and campaigns. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact the Branch on ext 58057.
| Research Committee | |
| Cases Committee | |
| Campaign committee | RMIT Branch Campaign Committee is where members can be active in the Union's public policy and industrial campaigns |
RMIT Branch Newsletters
| RMIT Voice April 2008 | This Edition: Collective Bargaining 2008, NTEU welcomes the National Apology to Australia’s Indigenous People, Your Rights at Work: the campaign continues, Casual/Sessional Staff News, National Academic Casuals & Sessionals Conference, Recruit a Colleague, Vale Tim Penhall, OH&S News, General Staff Update, Academic Matters ,The Final Word |
| RMIT Voice December 2007 | |
| RMIT Voice October 2007 | |
| RMIT Voice August 2007 | |
| RMIT Voice April 2007 | |
| 2006 Archive |
Workplace Consultative Committee
The Workplace Consultative Committee is the formal consultation forum within the University regarding implementation of the Enterprise Agreement and associated policies. It's membership is as follows:
a) Vice-Chancellor or nominee (chairperson);
b) three members of the University nominated by the Vice-Chancellor or the Vice-Chancellor’s nominee;
c) one academic employee elected by and from continuing and fixed term academic staff by a secret ballot every two years;
d) one general staff employee elected by and from continuing and fixed term general staff by a secret ballot every two years; and
e) two employees nominated by the NTEU.
NTEU is represented by Jeanette Pierce, Neil Robinson, Kate Patrick and Dave Kinder.
| Action notes - May 2008 | Outcomes from WCC meeting in May 2008 |
| WCC agenda May 2008 | |
| Action notes - April 2008 | Outcomes from WCC meeting of April 2008 |
| WCC agenda April 2008 | |
| Action notes - March 2008 | Outcomes from WCC meeting of March 2008 |
| WCC agenda March 2008 | |
| Action Notes Feb 2008 | |
| Action Notes Dec 2007 | |
| Action Notes Nov 2007 | |
| Action Notes Sept 2007 | |
| Action Notes August 2007 | |
| Action Notes July 2007 |
Financial Report
The NTEU RMIT Branch General Meeting will be held on:
- City Campus: 12.30-1.30pm Tuesday 7th October 2008, Venue: 10.11.22
- Bundoora Campus: 12.30-1.30pm Thursday 9th October 2008, Venue:207.02.06
The business of the General Meeting shall be:
*consideration of the RMIT Branch Financial report for the year ended 30th June 2007 (full report available below)
*update on Collective Bargaining
*report on Project Baker
*RMIT Space Allocation Guidelines
| 2006-2007 Financial Year NTEU RMIT Branch Financial Audit Report |
Casual and sessional staff information
| Minimum Standards for the Employment of Casual/Sessional Academic Staff | See the list of Minimum Standards for the Employment of Casual/Sessional Academic Staff proposed at the NTEU Victorian Casual/Sessional Academic Staff Conference held on May 26 2007. |
| Know Your Rights - Casual & Sessional staff | Click here to see and download our publication on Know Your Rights for RMIT's casual & sessional Staff. |
| www.unicasual.com.au - a website for casual academics | www.unicasual.com.au is a workplace information portal for Australian casual academic staff. Produced by the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), this site contains details about your workplace rights, your obligations and those of your employers, and information on how NTEU can assist you. |
Occupational Health and Safety
This is where you can find items dealing with OH&S issues that are of interest to members. The Branch Vice President (General Staff), Dave Kinder is the Branch Executive contact person for OH&S matters. He can be contacted on 9925 2565 or via the Branch Office on 9925 8057.
| OH&S Act 2004 | Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 |
| OH&S Explanatory Memo | Occupational Health and Safety Bill 2004: Explanatory Memorandum |
| OH&S claims and entitlements info | This page provides information about what you may claim, explains the need to contact your union, how to lodge a claim, your entitlements and other useful information. |
| OH&S News June 2006 | Biannual OH&S newsletter of the RMIT Branch |
| OH&S News September 2006 | Biannual OH&S newsletter of the RMIT Branch |