Structure

How VIEU works

The supreme governing body of the union is the VIEU Conference. It comprises delegates from each sector of the membership who are elected as delegates for three-year terms. Conference meets once per year, usually in November. It sets the membership fee and adopts policy.

The sub-branch is the basic unit of the union. At every workplace, the members make up one sub-branch. At some multi-campus schools there is a separate sub-branch at each campus. Principals have their own sub-branches.

VIEU rules require that sub-branch reps are elected every three years.  The rep then represents the sub-branch at meetings of Council. Reps are also eligible to be elected as delegates to Conference.

There are currently four separate Councils: Catholic Primary, Catholic Secondary, Independent Schools and Principals.

Councils normally meet once in Term 2 and once in Term 3 to debate issues relevant to them. 

Council delegates elect a President and Deputy President who automatically become members of the Committee of Management. Committee of Management meets eight times per year and has responsibility for the affairs of the union between meetings of Annual Conference.

The Committee of Management consists of the General Secretary, the Deputy General Secretary, the President, the Deputy President, the Council Presidents, the Council Deputy Presidents, two School Officer/School Services Officer members and six Ordinary members.

This VIEU structure benefits members by providing a greater opportunity for reps to be involved in decision-making and enabling reps, who work in similar types of workplaces, to meet, discuss and make decisions about issues that affect them. This structure facilitates the development of Councils and Conference as  decision-making forums, rather than simply reporting forums.

• Receive and distribute VIEU mail and faxes
• Update the VIEU noticeboard
• Respond to campaign votes and resolutions (eg. Certified Agreement voting)
• Complete the sub-branch Annual Return and update the membership list
• Liaise with union organiser for visits to school
• Conduct elections for Consultative Committee representatives (Catholic schools)
• Ensure a VIEU member is nominated for the H&S rep election

Information

• Schedule union meetings, prepare agenda and chair meetings
• Provide information to members (and non-members where appropriate)
• Provide feedback to VIEU office on issues of concern to members
• Hold sub-branch meetings prior to Consultative Committee meetings (Catholic schools) and ensure that reps of the Committee report back to members.

Grievances and Problem Solving

• Advise members where appropriate on actions in a dispute / grievance
• Represent members in a grievance with employer
• Refer to VIEU organiser for more serious problems

Policy Development

• Development of policies, where appropriate, on:
  - Affirmative Action
  - Harassment Policy
  - Appointment to Leadership Positions
  - An extras policy
  - WorkCover and Return to Work Policy

Recruitment

• Encourage new members of staff to join VIEU
• Encourage existing members of staff to join VIEU

Whole Union Participation

• Attend Council and Conference where elected to do so
• Participate in union meetings and demonstrations

Monitor

• Consultative Committee (Catholic Schools)
• Occupational Health & Safety (should have an elected and trained rep)
• Oversee Award and Certified Agreement implementation

Election

• A union representative must be elected from the eligible members at the workplace. (The Principal, even if a member, is not eligible to vote for the VIEU sub-branch representative).
• The election is important as a democratic process and also to meet the requirements of the Australian Electoral Commission.
• The elected representative is the only person entitled to vote at Council and be elected as a Conference delegate.

A Representative Committee

Sometimes a committee of people who share the tasks is the best way to  ensure effective representation in larger schools.
A committee might consist of:

• The VIEU sub-branch representative
• The Health & Safety representative
• A school officer / assistant
• A school services officer
• VIEU rep on the consultative committee (Catholic schools)
• VIEU nominee on the enterprise bargaining committee (Independent schools)
• (Larger schools may also elect an EEO officer)

A multi-campus school should have a representative at each campus. Consideration should also be given to the gender representation on the committee.

The committee should not be about creating extra work through more meetings, but about breaking the tasks into manageable portions and ensuring that the voices of all groups of members are heard.

Rules

IEU Rules