Plumpton High School Federation Representative Maria Tatsis (left) recruits Lucy Gamage to Federation. Most teachers when asked why they joined the union answer: "Because someone asked me".

New members signed up in blitz

By

Kathy Deacon

Federation has conducted a recruitment drive to inform new teachers about the benefits of joining the union.

Federation conducts recruitment drives in areas of high new teacher appointments to support the recruitment and membership work of Federation Representatives. The role Federation Representatives play in supporting staff to join Federation and with other membership matters is vitally important. A united and involved membership is crucial for the future campaigning capacity of Federation.

A recruitment drive occurred in the St Marys-Mount Druitt Teachers Association in the week commencing February 18. A mobile office was established at Mount Druitt Workers Club as a work base for Officers and staff. Federation Officers visited schools and assisted with completion of workplace lists, recruitment of new members and general membership inquiries. Staff from Teachers Federation Health also attended schools and members took the opportunity to make general inquiries and in some cases to join Federation Health.

It is important that new teachers are given support to join the Federation or to upgrade their membership from student to casual, temporary or permanent status. Once a new teacher has joined the Federation they can access a special offer to support the payment of their first year of the Institute of Teachers fee. If someone is a New Scheme teacher and joining the Federation for the first time in 2008 (or upgrading their membership from the student or unemployed categories) Federation will pay their first year's mandatory fee for the NSW Institute of Teachers. To qualify for this initiative the teacher must be:

• a New Scheme teacher and
• joining the Federation; or upgrading from student to unemployed to a full time, temporary or casual teacher member, and
• agree to pay the Federation fees by direct debit, auto credit card or pay their Federation fees for 12 months.

It is also vital that all members are in the correct membership category. If a teacher has changed employment status, for example from temporary to permanent, then they must inform Federation to ensure they are in the correct membership category and can continue to access the full industrial, professional and political support of the union.

During the recent recruitment drive many existing members took the opportunity to change their membership status and change their contact details with the Federation. Also, many members took the opportunity to switch their payment of union fees from payroll deductions to direct debit. Federation is still encouraging existing members to 'Make the Switch'.

During the recruitment drive the officers of the union answered queries about the Federation Recruitment Incentive Scheme, a reward scheme for members. All recruiters who have signed up new members in the year will be in the draw to win a trip to Paris. New members who also join from the January 1 are included in the travel prize draw as well. Recruiters who have recruited two new members are entitled to a $20 gift card, and for every member signed up after that they receive a further $10 gift card. Once a recruiter has signed up 25 members a bonus $50 gift voucher will be paid over and above vouchers already paid.

Kathy Deacon is the Membership and Training Officer.

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For further information

April 2008 contents