Warrington
Local Branch Secretary – Stephen Waldron
The Cheshire
Branch of ATL is very large and is split into three Local Branches,
one for each of the separate LEA’s: Cheshire(New),
Halton and Warrington. In addition the the overall Cheshire Branch Secretary
(Stuart Hart), each Local Branch has its own secretary to handle members’
concerns and to liaise with the LEA.
I
am responsible for representing Warrington ATL members in liaison and
negotiation with the various committees set up by the Local Authority
on policy formulation and review. Also, when called upon, as the Local
Branch Secretary I am there to represent the interests of members and
assist them in their school situation.
Additionally,
I am aiming to sharpen the profile of our professional association in
our schools. This extends to the independent sector. I am asking for
the support of all our members in ensuring that every school has an
ATL representative or a school contact. To help with communication of
my work with the Local Authority and ATL HQ, I circulate, by e-mail,
a regular newsletter to each of our reps or contacts so that it can
be copied and/or placed on the staff room union notice board. A shortened
version of these updates appears in our Cheshire District Newsletter.
The full version is also available on this website (see 'Archive'
below).
I
am proud that our association welcomed Teaching Assistants and other
School Support staff: in growing numbers they are now selecting our
local association as their union of choice.
If
you need any kind of help or support please do not hesitate to phone
me.
You
can contact me on0161 941 4970 and
you will receive a ring back on the day/evening of your initial call
or by email.
HERE
IS MY LATEST UPDATE - JANUARY '09
Welcome back to
the Spring Term! I would like to focus on three issues that have come
to the fore over the last term.
Two of these issues
arise from the updated School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Statutory
Document that came into force in September 2008.
All schools must
have published a Calendar/Document on the use of Directed time 1265
hours for the current academic year. This protects members from being
encouraged to attend meetings etc. that have not been planned in advance
and is partway towards a firmer recognition of life/work balance. Head
teachers have a statutory duty to have regard life/work balance when
considering any alterations to workload etc. The Local Authority through
WAMG is reinforcing this intention.
Secondly, changes
to improve the rights of all part-time teachers have come into effect.
A particular effect of this again refers to directed time for after
school events on days when the teacher is not in school. Attendance
at parents' meetings, school events will attract payment at such times
or there is no compulsion to attend these when they fall outside the
contracted days.
Most schools are
now operating the common attendance procedures for all staff that have
been in force with all other LA employees. Expect a Return to Work Interview
after each absence. The employer has to be seen to be operating a duty
of care to its employees. The process must be fair and transparent.
If you hit the trigger points expect an Attendance Review meeting. Your
school should have issued you with a copy of its attendance procedures
or there should be a reference copy available. You will be advised that
you have the right to be accompanied to the review meeting. Ensure that
you exercise that right and use your rep. or me in that function. Do
not be faced with a situation where there are 3 interviewers sitting
opposite you alone! Yes, it happens all too often and it is difficult
to recover ground on behalf of members who have followed this unwise
path. Additionally, the only persons who can conduct Return to Work
Interviews are those at assistant head level or above, or, a designated
and qualified member of the school personnel dept. HoDs etc. must not
undertake work: this is specified in the LA Regulations for schools.
