Schools CRT matters: it pays to keep an accurate record of work

The vast majority of AEU CRT members work full days when they undertake casual work. For the remaining 10%, keeping accurate records, while tedious at times, can be worth thousands of dollars. 

Such was the experience of a group of CRTs at a regional high school, where the school regularly engaged in split-shifts. A split-shift is when a teacher is employed early in the day, and then late in the day, with a large unpaid period in between. 

Over a period of years, this school regularly used unpaid periods of time. Although not happy about this, the CRT members didn’t realise this was wrong until other issues led them to raise it with their local AEU representative.  

The AEU rep and CRTs approached this well, raising it with the principal, seeking redress for underpayment and a change in practises. 

The AEU rep was successful in getting the school to change its process. The CRT members were regulars at the school, and some had worked there prior to moving into casual employment. This meant there were strong relationships between the CRTs and the wider union sub-branch. 

The ongoing issue of underpayment was raised with multiple principals and then with the department over a period of three years. In the first term of 2024, the school council finally made a financial offer to settle the matter. The eight CRTs affected were offered approximately $14,000 to resolve their claims, with each individual payment dependent on the extent of underpayment.

The school council saw fit to settle because the CRTs all had thorough records, which showed that the school had not always paid the minimum three-hour engagement rate, and often not paid for recess breaks or for sessions and yard duty worked.

It took nearly three years from the date the CRTs raised this matter until the school council made the offer. The persistence of these CRTs, the AEU rep, and the sub-branch – within a union able to prosecute the matter with the department directly – was essential to this win. 

This highlights practices that CRTs should make part of their daily routine:

• Make contact with the school’s AEU rep.
• Keep records of your work and check your pay.
• If you are uncertain about anything, speak to your AEU rep or call the MSC on 03 9417 2822.
• If your school uses split-shifts, tell the AEU rep and seek to have the practice changed.