SSO (Education Support) Bulletin - new agreement clears final hurdle

The Education Department and unions have successfully applied to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) for the SSO Agreement 2004 to be varied and extended to 1 December 2011.

The variations to the SSO Agreement will commence from the date of approval by the AIRC - 9 December 2008. The agreement will apply to all SSO staff employed on and from this date.

SSO staff will now be known as Education Support (ES) staff and the improved conditions and salary increases will now flow to members.

Pay increases

Now that the variation of the agreement has been approved, the pay rises, back pay and one-off payments are able to be processed.

Our newly named Education Support members can expect to receive their salary increase and back pay on 15 January 2009. The lump sum payments and compensation for any delay in increments as the result of the common increment date will be on 29 January 2009.

Congratulations

Members are to be congratulated for their fantastic support over this long and successful campaign. Now is the time to encourage your non-member colleagues to consider joining the union. The AEU has delivered significant improvements in this agreement and will work with members to ensure that the benefits are able to be realised.

Agreement implementation

The AEU is preparing an Agreement Implementation Guide to support sub-branches and our Education Support members. The guide will be sent to members' homes in January. Sub-branches will receive a copy early in Term 1.

The AEU will embark on an implementation campaign during Term 1. Implementation sessions will be held in conjunction with regional meetings, and extra AEU Active training courses are scheduled - you will be notified of the details early in the New Year.

MARY BLUETT
Branch President

KATHRYN LEWIS
SSO (ES) Organiser