Learning through your union

Union education - a vital tool for you and your union

Education of members is an essential tool in building a vibrant organisation and keeping your union strong.

NZEI Te RIU ROA holds regular seminars and workshops to give you the skills and knowledge to participate fully at your work site, and in your branch, District Council and the networks of NZEI. A typical workshop includes:

• information
• problem solving
• discussion
• exchange of ideas
• skills development
• case studies and organising projects

Employment Relations Education Leave (EREL)

A number of the seminars and workshops run by NZEI Te RIU ROA have been approved under the Employment Relations Act, so that you can be paid to attend in work time (EREL approved courses are marked with an asterisk(*). Individual members are notified by a letter from NZEI, and invited to enrol.

Priority seminars and training

To build a strong union, our members at the flax roots need to have the skills and knowledge to deal with any issue, both professional and industrial, that may arise. The following seminars and workshops are seen as important as they provide this.

Work site rep training *

This training is broken into three levels. Level One is for new site representatives, and focuses on the skills and knowledge required to be an effective NZEI site rep. Levels Two and Three build on the foundations established in Level One. They focus on practical case studies and projects to further expand your knowledge and skills.

PRT training *

These seminars are for Year One and Two provisionally registered teachers.
Year One training introduces you to the collective agreement, and what you are entitled to under it. It also looks at how you can become more involved in the union, as well as a number of professional issues. Year Two training focuses on registration and how you can resolve workplace issues quickly and professionally.

Organising seminar for district councils *

This course is for senior activists who are involved with NZEI at a branch and district council level. The focus is on methods for involving the membership in union campaigns and structures.

MST seminars *

At these seminars Members Support Personnel come together and learn the skills needed to support the wider membership as advocates and counsellors.

Other seminars and workshops available

Other seminars and workshops that are available to be held in your region, either at branch or district council level, are listed below. Unless stated otherwise, these courses are one half-day in length. They can be shortened if you would like to use one in your branch meetings etc. If you would like to find out more about these courses, please contact your local field office, or Brendon Lane at brendon.lane@nzei.org.nz

1. Branch effectiveness *

This training is for the core management group and other activists at branch, aronui tomua, and Komiti Pasefika levels. It focuses on how to effectively administer these NZEI structures.

2. Bullies and other Bothers

This workshop identifies difficult adult behaviour, discusses interpersonal skills, and explores processes for minimising and addressing bullying in the workplace.

3. CV writing

Ways to update CVs and prepare for job interviews are discussed in this seminar.

4. Early childhood registration -supervisor's course *

This is a one-day course that trains members to supervise early childhood teachers who are working towards registration, and have no tutor teacher available in their centres.

5. Employment relations issues and middle management in schools *

This program is jointly run with the PTTA and explores tensions in employment relations for middle management. It looks at what it means to operate in a "good faith" environment and discusses strategies, behaviours and communication skills to improve the employment relationships.

6. Leadership and facilitation for Maori members *

This course develops leadership and facilitation styles for Maori members by working through a number of employment relations topics.

7. Leadership and facilitation for Pasefika members

This course is the same as above, except that the target attendees are Pasefika members.

8. Modules based on the Principals' Kit *

These workshops include:

• Complaints, discipline and suspension
• Women in Management
• Making appointments in primary schools
• Performance management and performance agreements
• Meeting the educational needs of Maori children
• Teacher competency
• Financial management
• The teaching principal
• Managing priorities and meeting deadlines
• School development: planning and review
• Stress audits
• Industrial relations for principals

9. Moving and shaking for beginners: having a say and being heard

This workshop helps members gain confidence in speaking out in groups, arguing a case and explaining ideas. It also looks at meeting procedures and decision-making.

10. Public speaking

Preparing, writing, practising and delivering a speech are covered in this workshop.

11. Professional leaders in Early Education settings *

This half-day seminar gives teachers who are leaders and managers of community-based early childhood centres, the opportunity to learn about the employment agreements, legislation, teacher registration and other professional issues.

12. Safe practice

This workshop is based on the NZEI Te RIU ROA Code of Conduct: Physical Contact with Children and covers professional practice to ensure children and staff safety at worksites.

The CTU also has a website on health and safety issues at www.worksafereps.org.nz

13. Staff representatives on boards of trustees *

This seminar clarifies the role and responsibilities for primary members who are staff representatives on boards of trustees.

14. Staff representatives on management committees *

This is a programme for early childhood teachers who represent staff on management committees.

15. Stress management

This short course looks at ways to recognise and alleviate stress.

16. Owning the Support Staff Agreement *

The workshop covers employment matters that arise through the collective agreement, in particular the legal rights and responsibilities for support staff in primary schools.

17. Support staff occupational groups

This seminar helps identify professional development needs for different support staff occupational groups.

18. Teacher registration

This is a short programme for teachers in primary and early childhood.

19. Te Reo Awareness *

The purpose of this course is to increase the awareness of the value of learning Te Reo and to increase your ability to use the language.

20. Te Tiriti o Waitangi

This workshop gives a background to the treaty, and focuses on education and possible ways forward for the treaty partners in Aotearoa.

21. Women in education and the employment environment *

Run in conjunction with the PTTA, this seminar examines the status and achievement of women in the education environment. It aims to provide women with skills to identify and deal with gender discrimination in the workplace.

If you would like to find out more about these courses, please contact your local field office, or Brendon Lane at brendon.lane@nzei.org.nz