Membership jumps in several categories

By Phil Bradley

TAFE and AMES union membership has grown by 11 per cent and Corrective Services membership by 13 per cent in the past five months.

TAFE financial membership is now 6667 and the combined membership of all Post School Education areas is 6958. This has resulted from a coordinated campaign to recruit more members. Promotion of the Federation's success in achieving big improvements for its part time casual TAFE teacher members arising from the part time casual pro rata case settlement was a key issue used to assist recruitment in TAFE. The Federation's campaign against the Howard Government's industrial relations attacks is also providing another great recruitment opportunity, which I'm sure all members will harness.

This great recruitment result was supported by our successful campaign for increased permanency through the TAFE staffing agreement and various recruitment activities, including blitzes at TAFE colleges and the distribution of a leaflet 16 reasons to join the Federation. Other activities included sending letters and emails in a targeted fashion to Federation Representatives, head teachers and part time casual teachers.

The union will continue its recruitment drive and keep paying particular attention to encouraging as many part time casual teachers as possible to become members, as our membership density is relatively low for them.

Federation is also trying to ensure that all full time teachers are members. The union has effectively reached its Post School Education target of 7000 financial members and is now working towards 8000 members by the end of 2006.

Part time casuals can elect to have their dues paid by salary deduction at the rate of 51.35 cents per hour worked in 2005. Part time casual teachers who elect to have their dues paid by salary deduction will only pay on the basis of the actual hours worked. This is the simplest and most convenient way for them to pay for membership. Membership fees are tax deductible. Federation membership application forms are available on request from Federation's membership section.

With the Federal Howard Government's attacks on workers' rights and conditions, and all Governments cutting TAFE funding in real terms, Federation recognises how vital it is that it recruit as many union members as possible to strengthen opposition to these attacks. Every teacher who joins the Federation increases the union's ability to win further improvements and to increase security of employment for all teachers.

Phil Bradley is the Assistant General Secretary (Post School Education).

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November 2005 contents