THE PROGRAM
Organising Works is a traineeship program delivered by the ACTU Education and Campaign Centre. The program aims to recruit people into unions and train them in the skills of organising and recruitment. The program also seeks to inject resources into the union movement to enable effective and sustained campaigns, utilising new and innovative approaches to organising. The trainee’s primary role is to work at a grass-roots level recruiting and organising principally in non-union areas. The program has proven successful as a means of recruiting more women, young people and workers from diverse ethnic backgrounds into the union movement.
The Organising Works program incorporates the nationally accredited qualification BSB41804 Certificate IV in Unionism.
THE PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Program Dates
There is only one intake per year. The 2007 intake will commence on 3 September 2007, and conclude on 31 May 2008.
Program Delivery
The program is delivered as a combination of supervised work experience, and nationally accredited structured training. The program covers a broad range of topics, including: effective communication techniques; recruitment and development of activists; development and implementation of organising plans; undertaking negotiations and bargaining; recruitment skills; time management; handling disputes; and using Occupational Health and Safety as an effective tool. Trainees are bound by a training agreement which requires them to participate in approved on-the-job training, and approved off-the-job training courses.
Work Experience & Mentors
Trainees are employed by a participating union. The trainee will spend most of their time working within that union, fulfilling the role as set out by the union. Trainees will gain on-the-job exposure to the skills, strategies and knowledge required to work effectively as a union organiser. Trainees are placed with a mentor within the host union, who will take responsibility for providing job support and guidance to the trainee.
Scheduled Training and Assessment
In addition, trainees must participate in the formal training sessions conducted by the ACTU Education and Campaign Centre. This classroom-based training will be conducted in weekly blocks throughout the program (see Course Dates 2007) and will be subject to formal assessment procedures. Trainees will be required to participate in the formal training, and submit the prescribed assessment tasks to achieve competency in ten (10) Units of Competency. Trainees are assessed via a range of methods, including workplace based projects, written activities and observation of demonstrated skills. Trainees successfully completing all 10 units are issued the Qualification. If a Trainee does not complete all units, a Statement of Attainment is issued, detailing the units completed. Trainees will also need to attend a one-week block of residential training (please note that interstate travel may be required).
Vocational Outcomes and Pathways
On completion of Certificate IV in Unionism, graduates will have the skills and knowledge required to carry out the role of Industrial Officer within a Union. They may go on to study the Diploma of Unionism offered through any Registered Training Organisation in Australia.
THE PARTICIPANTS
Eligibility
The Organising Works program will be advertised in newspapers in each participating state, and any person is entitled to apply. A broad range of ages, ethnicity, political and activist groups from a range of blue and white-collar unions have been represented amongst our graduates.
Unions may also choose to enrol existing workers in the program, or nominate an existing worker for interview (please refer to the Selection & Appointment Process below).
Most unions will require trainees to hold a drivers licence.
FEES & FUNDING
Program Fees and Refunds
Each participant will incur a flat-fee of $1,000, payable by the participating union, to the ACTU Education and Campaign Centre. Please click here to view the breakdown of fees and refund policy.
Trainee Wage
The minimum cost for a union to employee a trainee is based on the National Award Rate for a trainee placed on a 43 week contract. This cost includes superannuation, work cover and payroll tax. This wage will be payable by the participating union to the trainee. Many unions pay the trainee a higher wage than the minimum, and some unions will elect to extend the trainee contract beyond the 43 week period. This will alter the cost to the union.
Additional Costs
Unions will need to consider airfare costs to and from the compulsory residential course and Graduation Ceremony, both of which may be conducted interstate. Unions may also need to consider the travel costs associated with trainees attending scheduled training courses (these will be conducted in the capital cities of each participating state, so interstate travel will not be required).
Government Incentives
Some trainees will be eligible for traineeship funding, which may entitle the employing union to receive a Commonwealth Government Wages Incentive. If the trainee meets the criteria (see below), the union will receive $4,000 per eligible trainee, payable by the Commonwealth Government (via the Australian Apprenticeship Centre). This wage incentive will be paid in two installments; once upon commencement and once upon completion of the program. Trainees who do not meet the criteria will not attract government incentive payments.
Participants may be eligible for Commonwealth Government Wages Incentive payments if they have been employed by your union for less than 3 months full-time, or 12 months part-time or casual, prior to signing the traineeship contract. In addition, the trainee must not hold any prior qualifications such as a university degree or diploma (unless they have been registered as unemployed for the previous 12 months).
SELECTION & APPOINTMENT PROCESS
The selection and recruitment process is quite lengthy. All applicants will need to complete a Traineeship Application Form, and will be required to attend a Group Interview.
STEP 1: EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
The ACTU Education and Campaign Centre will circulate an Expression of Interest form to unions. Unions should use this form to express interest in employing a trainee/s to participate in the 2007 Organising Works program. This form must be returned to the ACTU by no later than Friday 6th July 2007.
There are three (3) categories of trainee candidates:
1. Pre-Selected Participants: Unions may choose to enrol an existing employee in the program. If the participating union has already identified a participant, they should complete and return the Expression of Interest Form and the Union Nomination Form by Friday 6th July 2007. Pre-selected participants will be guaranteed a place in the program, but will still be required to complete the Traineeship Application Form, and participate in the group interview process.
2. Candidates for Interview: Unions are encouraged to seek out and nominate their own potential trainees for interview. If unions choose to nominate a person for interview, they should complete and return the Expression of Interest Form and the Union Nomination Form by Friday 6th July 2007. Anyone nominated for interview by a union will be guaranteed an interview, but will not be guaranteed a place in the program (the nominating union is not obliged to select this candidate as their trainee). Candidates nominated for interview will still be required to complete the Traineeship Application Form, and participate in the group interview process.
3. External Applicants: If unions have not identified any potential trainees, the ACTU will place an advertisement in newspapers in all participating states. External applicants will be required to complete the Traineeship Application form, and participate in the group interview process. Applicants who would like to apply for the program can contact the ACTU Education and Campaign Centre to find out the date we will be advertising.
STEP 2: INTERVIEW PROCESS
Interviews will take the form of a group interview, conducted by the ACTU Education and Campaign Centre. We strongly recommend that participating unions send a representative to attend these interviews. Dates for group interviews will be forwarded to participating unions once Expressions of Interest have been received. The group interview will serve to shortlist candidates, who will then attend an individual interview with the participating union.
STEP 3: NOMINATION OF A MENTOR
Upon selection of a trainee, the ACTU will forward a Mentor Nomination Form to participating unions. Unions will need to nominate a mentor for each trainee, who has the expertise and time to provide on-the-job support and training to the trainee. Mentors play a crucial role in the success of the traineeship, so it is essential that all participating unions nominate a mentor for each trainee. The Mentor Nomination Form must be signed and returned to the ACTU Education and Campaign Centre. The Mentor will be required to attend the Mentor Workshop at the commencement of the program, and an additional workshop during the period of the traineeship to discuss their role and any issues they are facing (see Course Dates 2007).
STEP 4: ENROLMENT & TRAINING AGREEMENTS
Upon selection of a trainee, the ACTU will forward a Memorandum of Understanding to participating unions, outlining the Terms and Conditions of the program. The Memorandum of Understanding must be completed and signed by all participating unions, and returned to the ACTU Education and Campaign Centre.
Participants are usually signed to a training contract (depending upon state requirements). The training contract is a legal document that sets out the training and supervision an employer must provide for their employee, the responsibilities of the RTO, and the employee’s obligations as a trainee.
There are four parties involved in the training contract:
Trainees and Mentors will be required to attend a workshop at the commencement of the program (see Course Dates 2007), to sign their enrolment documentation and training contract. Representatives from an Australian Apprenticeship Centre (AAC) will also be in attendance. The AAC will determine whether trainees are eligible for Commonwealth Government Funding.
FORMS
COURSE DATES
CONTACT INFORMATION
ACTU Education and Campaign Centre
Level 4, 365 Queen Street
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
PH: (03) 9664 7363
FAX: (03) 9670 0837
Email: orgworks@actu.asn.au