August 27 2009.

Report from the Chair.

Mike Armstrong, Branch Chair.

The Branch is most frequently called upon to explain the CA and to assist members identify and solve issues relating to their individual situation and negotiating with management on behalf of individual members with workload and pay issues.”  The CA is often referred to for clarification.

Kris Smith visits all campuses on a regular basis. Gill Ryan General Staff Representative ITP sector, travelled to Wellington for support staff training late last year and extended her awareness of activism in that sector. Gill is booked to go there again in September. My own annual trip to Wellington for the National Conference was cancelled owing to the death of my mother on the morning I was to depart.

Kris Smith and Barb Hill have been taking part in the Pay and Equity Committee during 2009.”  That Committee has now reached the end of the consultation phase and Ben Lee is at present collating the findings before taking the report back to the committee before releasing the final report to staff.

Branch Executive met on the 7^th May and there has been a Branch claims meeting held on the 10^th August.

Kris Smith and members at Dunedin Campus have been involved in negotiations with Otago Polytechnic re Aoraki Polytechnic’s delivery of programmes out of region. These discussions have been underway during this past year and aspects relevant to the jobs and workload of our members have been ongoing. TTH issues are still being resolved, as Otago calculates their certificate TTH differently.

Otago Polytechnic had desired the total takeover of our media area programmes under the “out of region” delivery of programmes. AP programmes offered did not correspond or compete with theirs, being at a different level and covering more specific areas. Negotiations mean that the Dunedin Campus Media programmes are to run in conjunction with Otago and be taught by our tutors.

Since the last CA settlement the branch has been involved in ongoing work with management to secure clearer pay and progression for general staff. Currently management are working on job descriptions and a structured set of salary scales for support staff. Following a Review in Registry in February of this year, there was a restructuring of positions. Jeremy Hogan, the then manager, left, and this work is currently being undertaken my Ben Lee and Lyn George for AP management.

Recruitment is continuous, as members leave and new members are recruited into the ranks. There were 63 members in November 08, currently Branch numbers stand at 64, therefore we are looking at approximately (some members are on long leave) 12 departures and13 new members. Many thanks as always to Carol Soal who actively engages with new staff as they appointed to inform them of the role and importance of the union. All members should discuss the advantages of belonging with new co-workers in their faculty.