Lunchbreaks are a right

As arrangements are being planned for 2008, the issue of reasonable teacher breaks, reasonable playground duty allocation and alternative organisation must be considered and addressed, writes BOB LIPSCOMBE.

In too many schools and colleges, breaks that are considered basic entitlements in nearly every other occupation have been eroded to the extent that arrangements currently in place represent a threat to the long-term health of teachers. As with every other occupation, teachers have a right to an uninterrupted lunchbreak of no less than 30 minutes each day, as well as reasonable opportunity to access toilet breaks.

While many increases in teacher workload in recent years have occurred as a result of government and Department of Education and Training (DET) decisions, it is also clear that the erosion of teacher breaks has been worsened by decisions made within a school or college. Often contributing to this problem are the excessive demands of playground duty rosters, requirements to supervise students while eating, frequent meetings convened during lunch breaks, early starts for sport, starting and finishing times imposed by bus companies, and a failure by those in positions of authority to understand the provisions of the DET Teachers Handbook.

The Teachers Handbook provides for a lunchbreak of one hour. This allows for teachers to have 30 minutes on duty if necessary and 30 minutes off duty. The handbook also provides for a short mid-morning break in high schools and a mid-morning break of 15 minutes in primary schools. Although the handbook does not specify a time off duty during the mid-morning break, to comply with requirements under occupational health and safety legislation, teachers must be able to visit the toilet and so on when they need to. It is unlikely, for example, that it would be seen as reasonable, for example, for a teacher not to have the opportunity to go to the toilet because they were required to be continuously on class and playground duty from the commencement of school until lunchtime.

While some variations may occur, the basic entitlements for teachers remain. In addition, variations need to comply with the award provisions relating to teaching loads, alternative work organisation and teaching outside normal school hours.

With planning for 2008 occurring now, members, including principals, should ensure that workplace arrangements provide all teachers with reasonable mid-morning breaks to access toilets and so on and a uninterrupted lunch break of a minimum of 30 minutes each day, with decisions about how this time is to be used made by the individual teacher. Such planning may include a review of playground duties which, while taking into account the reasonable provision of supervision of students, seeks to identify and eliminate unnecessary duties.

Further information about these requirements has been distributed to all Federation Representatives. If difficulties arise in addressing these matters, advice should be sought from your Federation Organiser.

Bob Lipscombe is the Senior Vice President.

For further information

October 2007 contents