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New FASS casual payment guidelines - Important NTEU Information
Dear NTEU FASS members
On 3 July, following further meetings between the Branch and the Faculty, the Dean circulated the new '2012 Payment Guidelines for Subject Coordinators Engaging Casual Academic Staff'. Over the past six months the union has made a series of representations on issue falling under the payment guidelines for casual staff, issues that are relevant and important for both casual and continuing academic staff.
As a result we have been able to achieve the following improvements:
a. A return to payment of 33 hours / subject for casual subject coordination of subjects with up to 2 cohorts, and 33 hours, with an additional 5 hours for any additional cohorts.
b. Payment at lecturer rate for casual lecturers teaching distance delivery subjects within the Adult Education program.
c. Payment at the 3 hours lecturer’s rate for Teacher Education casuals who are teaching 3 hour workshops.
d. Payment of 1 hour per student (in addition to the 5 hours for subject meetings per semester) at Other Academic Activity rate as part of the Administration load for casual academics teaching in the Language and Culture subjects.
There was also some improvement on the guideline for lecture attendance by casual tutors.
Specifically, the previously announced policy removed payment for lecture attendance from tutors who had previously taught in the subject. The new guideline allows for tutors in a subject to be paid to attend lectures provided the subject coordinator provides a 'short written explanation of the reasons and justification (for example, the level of changes and updating in the lectures, direct linkages between lectures and tutorials)' to the Program Head.
In our meeting the Dean has assured the union that where a subject coordinator does make a case for lecture attendance, their professional judgement will be respected and they will not have to undergo a protracted justification process with the Program Head.
Over the next few weeks the union will closely monitor the implementation of the guidelines - especially the payments for lecture attendance where subject coordinators request that such payments be made. Please contact the union if these provisions are in any way breached.
With the Enterprise Agreement due to be renegotiated in mid-2013 the union will ensure the issue of fair payment for the work done by casually-employed staff will be a top priority for union negotiators and campaigners.
Regards
Tony Brown
NTEU-UTS Branch President
17 July 2012
