Arts Unit program coordinators help coordinate arts events. Above, NSW public school dance ensembles prepare for their Showcase Concert at Newtown High School of Performing Arts in December 2007.

Win for Arts Unit program coordinators

By

Kerri Carr

An annual allowance and limits on workloads are part of a new settlement.

After six years of enduring unilateral changes to Arts Unit program coordinators' working conditions and excessive workloads, Federation sought an award in May 2007 in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC).

The Department of Education and Training Arts Unit helps coordinate performing arts regular events such as school concerts, workshops and camps, and major events such as the annual Schools Spectacular. This pattern of activities requires program coordinators to work outside normal working hours, weekends and during vacation periods.

After further lengthy negotiations between Federation and the Department of Education and Training (DET) in the IRC, the IRC endorsed settlement of the dispute over the allowances and working conditions of Arts Unit program coordinators in late 2007.

The settlement terms include an annual allowance of $6500 for Arts Unit program coordinators to be paid fortnightly and automatically adjusted annually in line with allowances in the Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award. Federation agreed to withdraw its award application from the IRC in exchange for the allowance and limits on daily hours of work and weekend work through a Determination.

Federation Industrial Officer Rex Hewett said that from October 15, 2007 the current compensatory leave provisions would not apply but there would be limits on monthly and quarterly workloads and consideration of work and family life balance when approving work programs.

"The settlement provides for a two year trial and a review after the first year of operation," he added.

Mr Hewett said the threat of a drawn out NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) arbitration and the evidence of the Federation's three witnesses including Federation Organiser David Ferguson and program coordinator Peter Cook (whose statements were submitted to the IRC though not taken as evidence) were critical in settling this dispute.

"The witnesses' evidence also provided strong testimony to the commitment and value of work of Arts Unit program coordinators," Mr Hewett said.

"This experience highlights the need to regularly review the changing work patterns of non school based teachers and the industrial instruments underpinning them and other teachers' employment," he added.

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