Department of Education v Queensland Teachers Union of Employees [1998] QIRC 309 (1998) 158 QGIG 455

454 INDUSTRIAL GAZETTE 3i !998 3 , 199.3 GOVERN!vIBNT INDUSTRIAL GAZETTE 455 QUEENSLAND INDUSTR!AL kEL-1.TIONS COMMISSION VVorkplace Rdatfrius Act 1997 s. 55 -- appUcati,::;n to tenn.in,1.te bargaining per)ixf anri exs:~rcise arbitraJ }X)\Vers AND {1Vo. B 1603 cf TEACH!d{S' AWARD-STATE COM1\1lJ'.'fffY TEACHERS. ASS!STA'¾iT TK>.CHERS -ABORIGINAl. & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER COMMUNITY SCHOOLS A WARD - STATE CO\H,USSlONERS HS HER, BECHL Y AND \il'TTER 2-2 1998 Pri:"vious i..fo.c.isions - T;;n1r)ra.ry te~tehtss - .A.. c<,:e,s tu Senior Teadwr ~- \V.rittt.-:n sub.rnissirms -- Axhitration -- :,Cont.racf' teacht-rs - Criteria - 1-Ughe-r bvel duties: - '"fl1rc.e con$ecu.tive scht"1J tern.is - ,AST i.::ias,s1fic-0tlon - Part.ieS agre~rncnt --- Rt~rnainder of award approved.. DEClSlON 27 Fet,ruary 1998, agreernent has hec-n ~11bstantiaHy nii:tt..-,_hed on d.H is.q1e~ ,:save the to \Vhether Teachers kmporariJy c-ngagcd by Educa.tion (h.1ee,11,;;J;1nd (Ed Q) ;-;hould hav~:- to ihe kvd (if Tea.ch<,r, \Vritte-n subnnssions hav~; been n.:-C:..!1ved fnJn1 hoth E'.d Q and (iuec.nsla11d T...:achers Unton of Ernployee~-, (Q rrJ) in suppurt c;f their contentions the Coni!-rlission i.s a.ske-d to a.thit.rav,~ th~ Thf; 1--mrt1,>s that tentporary te~tchers are teach.:>rs engaged by Q 1111 fH...•n-:,1Jbi,:tantrve ~..-aca.nc.ics_ Jn c:in::nrr•sta.nce.s they rn~iy also be· 2704 9 _ 1 DOC' -- 1 of 2 -- 456 Q{ 1EENSLAND GOVERNM:ENT INDUSTRIAL G AZETIE 3 l July. 1998 "contract" ko:1.chers because they ill"~ ge-neraHy 0Lgagcd for specific perivds i)f tirne to replace penna.11t,Id teachers. Te1nporary t-.:.achers ;ir~~ e-nga.ged purs1J:±nt to -;;?diem_ 113 of the Puhhc ~\ervht:> Acl 1996. Terr1prRary tt::<:\£:h-.~rs received salary t:quivalc-n.t to pt"rnnn.tmt teachers ba.sf,d on quo.lific,,~t~ons and experietH:e and art: 0ntitled to a pro !ata lum_p surn payrnent of zmnuaJ leave and h'-!ave loading 0-i.1 terrninatiun c,f any L.:rnp<)f'd.ry e.ngagen11;;uts tc:ubjt:ct to any _pa)THents already rf'Ct.~-1\.\::d for sdHY0°1 \.'a.cation p·e.J.i\-xls ). Sirnply put. r.he vie\V of l':t.i Q ts that access ~-'.hOLtld not be granted, TI1.e view of the QTU is that acc~s~; should be av1i1.iblc~ tfpcm a Tt:rtchcr hh\ing A ten1p()rar·y er~g1tgcn~1tnt 0f schr~oi h:_rrn {9 '\Necks) or k:-:nger and mectiGg the requisn.c crit:xia In our tk{'i_3ion dated 27 h-:':btua:y 1998. th~ Cor.nrnLssion :'-ltated inter aliu-• '"r\ccordwg!y '=-Vhik we a.r;~ of :hr.:; vj~w tha.t the i\STl classification should be abuhshed ?,Ld !ts .'"ia[ary becon1e thic: tast step of the, }:1cremental s..:::ak,, '<Ve pn.)pose h) do two things to dcrnonstratc- to tt:ache.rs that Jn extra cornrrnt.rnent .i::-; reqHired to re.ach the 1eveL .FirstJy. to access thls kve.l tf:a.chers wlH b~ required, ir. addititin to ffli~e-ting tlw standard req_ufr~:-tnem~~ for incrcrnen.tai n-1overni:nt, to slg:n .a.u undertaking th;.tt on reqm:~~:i. !rGff\ the Principal they Yt•'iH und,~rtake on a continuJng basis ~uch higher L;vd duties which i'Yould have h..::e.r:. expected of teachers ·\vhu prcv1ously ar.ta]ned ASTl levet for exarnpk- tliof:c nu.riincd in ~\-1r \fould's evirlcnci:, Should a Teacher not cornply ,vith an UHdertaklng he or s:he. hai given, the teacher is to re.vt:·rt back to the S;.".cond last 3tt.:p ot' th,;;: 4 year tr:;.i.inc\d teacher scale wht~-n-- tht:y wiH It~r;nain fvr a r--;..-_;:ri•-xi of 12. rr1oml1':>. A,x~e.ss to the fi1Hl incre.rnentai step ·'l'viH then m~!y be available again wht:re the re.a.cher provides the undertaking ;wd tJ12 Princi.pal i,; :::atisfied that th0 undertaking wiH be honoure,<l. Scco-adiy. in re\..·ognitJon ot this; conl!Tlltrnr:;nt, the last step sh::1H be- k1101,vn as SenJ<..•r T tri.:her. The addibPnal gtcp and jt-; htk are to ht-: irn::Jnded -in the Award inad;:: a;:~ a result 1.)f this arbitration< \Vble reJerence i.,;; t0 hi: 1nade in the :'\.\Vctrd to th.: uw.krt<lking r ....·quired. to be s1gned, Wt' do not s:'.-nvisage ~·-hat an ex.hao.:;t( v,:: Ji;.;t {)f highc:r level dutit:s would nt:Gd to he. dcvdof.,'Cd for .rnc)u.s_i<HL w·t~, acknnwk-dgf·. t.hi:it s...)ffk~ pn)tc.ctions .J.re nt::t'<l,:-d t-c~ t:·-nsure S::-:ninr -r:--:?,ach{:'rs .2trs not alk>r:.:ate-rl inappropri~H-t: or tHitt..;';'ccssa.ry dut.i~s ho,vevt:--r we ch.ink .:1 E;;t ;)f nd1L:a1ive t;-1.sk.s should sufficr:. Should the partJ;;;s nr\t be al)],:~ to tlgr,.~-e upn.n a hs-:: of iurlk-3tive tasks th,.~ 1natt:r.:r :shuuid be refen,;,d to rhc: Conunission ". (157 f,JCfJG 172 at 179) h 1s in1plic1t in \Vhat \te. have ~aid that for -.l ·1\.:ache1 to ac:(\:·:ss 1l1e Senior Te-acher icvd the Prindpa! of the rdev,).nt schoul rnust have an oppnrtun!fy to a.lkx:atc. "o!1 ;_i C\.Httinuous ix1..'d" ."Heh higher level dutic:.'.-:: which wnuJd hJ_vi: bec~-n f:XfK~cte<l of teaeh,x.s ;vho had pr,::v1c-rL'-i1)' altairn~<l A.S'f1 leve-1''. (Higher k-vel (tu.tic.~ jdentified by the p;;.i.rtles in a draft of A;vard Jnduded providm.g leader.ship in cturiculurn irt.1plern.;.:.ntatk,n 1 n~snurc-e 1a.kve-.Joprnent :..Hhi e;1ha..r1{\~!'.i.1f:-.nt of .stndcnt l.t:.arning, developing po:-::iove- t('°httlnn5>hifJS ..,v_ii11 th~-~ school ccnnnunit:-r' and st.uderit...--:, be-th _!r.dividually and colie<.tively, and Cotit.rihwin.g 1r1 the ;;upr,"-xt and profe5;s1on~-U dew;inpnie-nt oi other tea.,-..~J.1.-ers). ID.c.";t ch:Jit-.\ v...-ou!d obviously not p.:rtain in resrx~.;.-t to a short pr.:rHYti tcn:q_..1tJrary ~qJptJinrm(.,nt ~t a p;lrt1ci.ltar sdv.:x.A t}f1r would it extend to a n1orY~ lengthy pf:ri;,d if that pcrl,;)d wa~ for :1 m.1rnb,~r of :,.hcirt })e-rir.:Mi appoint.n1e.nts at ChtTf:r~nt schools. Hov.:.svcr 1 g1vtn. tht;se hxnitations, it ~1/(.tiJld he: inappropt iatc :f, 1r tt,mp-nu.ry teac:w.rs <l5 a dass tf, be deni::d acccs.--s to .Senior T;,,~~;dw-r lcvd where ihe Gthcr Lnk1i2. a.re ln,~L For ;;xaxnpk·, v.. e,;:. wert' .in.fnrn1c-d by l_id Q m their \·ubrniss1orL-; that forclgri Lu:iguage h~~v.J;trs on L·:n1r,-c:r~;.ry· /\:ustraL~0u1 vis~ts cl ont, !\Vo or th.ree Yf>:U:-S .a.rt": noc abk'. tu be crnployed c,n a penl)anent ha,;;is -il.S they are n;;.;t penna.nent tt.sid{'0 f1t~ vf A.hstrah~L If th~se k~acher.s J.rt:- abk to .rr.,t~-ct the oth:::r crikri;1 indudinr approp1 tar.e sc,rv11,.:e at thl: :,cb..)c~l, the-;,' shoL.dri ;:.;('.:,~1rly n\.:,.t be d,,;:~nii:d acce:,,s to Serw::-r Te,id.ttr8 lc-vc:l as the: PrhH.:[p,11 V/ulJid ha"\';: the opportunity i.D utiii,;t: their ~e.rY]ces on "higher !e':cl c:utif\~--. (}v-::.i"aU v.·e nave .furrne.d the vit:'-~-' that h::n1porary tert\.:htF 1,-vho obtaio an ap_f_v.:Jiu:n:enJ t(J ;::,. srJic:c:fic .s-chc~::::,i fcir {..\ pcrkx! of three. crnisccur.],ve schu•oi 1tTn1S, std:kct tc• ~ne,,,_:ting th~ relJU.ircd niteria, Yvouid ht itbk to be utihsed by ilK .Pr.inijpat on ,•mch }ugher kvet dutlt\~~ ]dcn.tified ,tt the hearing and dct:1ikd in the dr,1.ft i\.V\\:~rd, !I th,:, ternpt.~t-i:tr:,., ;.!.ppoimrnent !;<: exteIKkd ltle St~~rnor T.::.;;u~:hi::r kYei should o:mt?ruJi..:-- for the k::ffn o.f th...~- exten:-;ion/1;' at the s;-.-1:m.e _,;-chooi. \Ve h;iv{:. f:)n11:::d the vi.z:•N the.~! te-.n.1pf'l!1try :.tpp--z;;_In1.:rnent.s fo.r _icss than rhb tHnc fKtil)<i do not pnJ-v\d,.: ;1, :l\.:.. a..sonabk opp-onrn:1ity k,r thi: Principa] to utihse the te:rr:.r>orary tceach.er on a sufficient ran.gt:· of higher <lmic,.,~ to JiJ.stify accets to the St;-nit)f Tea.cher leveL ()ne- of the argttn1c:-.nts put by Ed (.)_ against krnporar-y L?achers- being ab.le to acce,s.s the Senior TetKher S!t\J ",\.'<1;'-. that, tern.pc,rar:..,, t::achers were. un.;1bl,,,; to access the AS'::,' das:.:ific.aiio.n. \Ve find it nccess&.J' to ckarJy state that in deciding to roH np the .AST dassl.fo::ati(.tn into the )ncrernc.Dtai salary scale :1nd creating a new _final increment t,_, be- known as St;rrlot Teacher "J/e have not made a dire-ct substitution for th;; /\-8T dassificatkHL 1-\hhough dutlts pr('.;viously pertnnncd by A.ST' s nl~Y n:.:,w be perlor1ned by Senior Te<K:he.rs, th{·. nnly preo.:mdlti;.1n k• acces.sJrtg the 8alary is te sign ,1.n undertaking that such dutJc.s win h..: p;-rforrned on rt.~qttt.-st ffr"Tn U1~ _Pt·indpaL Tli,:: Scnir>r Teacht·-r level by \)UT F{;bruary decision i.s not. a •.:'-lassification hw: is the ia<:-t step o1 &n incn·-n1enta1 s.a.lar:_,-, .)'cak-. V./e W(Juld aho note in passing that d,;:n1st:- 5 S,~nior 1 :'.acher) AHl1.chmcnt Senjor Teacher l..T.ndertak..ing and Attachme-.nt 3 -- DnfH Scn1ur Teacher Pcrscrnai Action P1an are m;.;n-:, detaik-d, t':Xk-n,;ive and burcaU{.T~H:ic than we envisage-d when det·~rrn.i:ning to etc.ate ;1cc.~2s to a Senior T1:~:±d1er incren1ental step, Howevi.:::r_, giv,-=n tb.e partie.s ha;.'c agreed to th,::::>t pn.)vision.s. we have decided to aHow thes-t, ptovisio:ns to re.P.13..in unalkrcd ~-xcept 1 that access by tt'-Inporary teachers to the Senior Tea.c·h.':r Step i~ to bt~ incorporated in ,1ccordancc with this decision, \Vith this de;.:isj~Jn, we <'..pptovv the rcniaind?.r of the- draft Avvard suhrn1tk,d to us jointly by the parties. G.K. FISHER. CDmrnissimwr. RE BECHLY. Comrnissioner. BJ. NUTTER, Comrnlss10.ner. \'fr T, BMk)\V a.nd ;.virh hlr.n }v!r (3, \1o{(cney for the Qn.,~ensl::m<l Teachers T,:nion of E.n1plcyees, .Mr R. Kelly, with .h1n1 ~.1.s S. Crt)tisave. aJ1d [Yfr P. Casey for Education Que\:nshmd. rv1r T. Harnilton ii)r the St.::tk Pubhc Ser/H.::es h.::dt:ratlon Quetn.sL.tnd {_;nion of En1plr)yt:c.s . 31 July. 1998 QCEENSLAND GOVERNMENT INDUSTRIAL GAZFn·E 457 -- 2 of 2 --