This document provides guidance on strengthening a union sub-branch through effective planning and organization. It outlines that a sub-branch needs dedicated executive members, regular meeting times, and financial resources to fund activities that promote membership growth and morale. Specific recommendations include creating a yearly calendar, selling chocolates as a fundraiser, establishing an engaging notice board in the staff room, and purchasing a banner to advertise the sub-branch. The overall message is that strong sub-branches are built through passionate involvement, strategic planning, and actions that unite members.

1. How to strengthen your sub-branch A guide by a fool who did it by trial and error

2. Why even have a strong sub-branch? You can get things done! Better pay, better conditions, better outcomes! Stronger sub-branches mean stronger unions Improved morale and work environment

3. Every sub-branch needs…

4. What sort of people? Passionate Willing to take risks Numbers! You will need a President Secretary Treasurer Women’s Representative ES Representative You may need to pass motions to create some of these positions!

5. What are the temporal needs? Time for meetings Time for celebrations Time for promoting and recruiting Time for planning Time for fundraising Time for reflecting

6. What are the financial needs? Money for non-free union training e.g. graduates conference Money for running the sub-branch Money for celebrations Money for promotions

7. What are the planning needs? What is your membership goal? What events will you run? What panels / positions will you put people into? How will you promote the union? How will you build connections to other schools near you? What are your goals?

8. Some planning ideas What is your membership goal? 85% What events will you run? ES Day, Teacher’s day, international women’s day, May day, Union week, regular meetings! What panels / positions will you put people into? School council, consultative committee, interview panels How will you promote the union? Morning teas, fundraisers, getting a banner, having a union notice board, meetings! How will you build connections to other schools near you? Coffee afternoon, invite to an afterschool meeting

9. Move towards an action model

10. Fund raising ideas

11. Time You must set regular times to meet, plan, act and reflect. Create a yearly timetable for sub-branch and executive meetings. Your plan will tell you and your team what to do, when, and why. Turn your list of goals into a to-do list and make people responsible, set dead lines! Your fundraising will help power your plan. Your treasurer has only one duty, MONEY. Finding it, following it, and dispensing it. Making time to celebrate as a sub-branch and reflect as a union team will make you stronger. Always look forward for solutions, celebrate your school, your profession and your union.

12. Where to start Plan for sub-branch meetings and executive meetings for the year Get the treasurer to order some chocolate Get a notice board in the staff room

13. Meetings Aim for 1 meeting for every 4 teaching weeks for both the sub-branch and the executive Keep sub-branch meetings short, sweet and upbeat. Individuals should not be waiting a month to seek you out about problems. Real issues can (and should!) be discussed, but always with an eye on creating a solution.

14. Chocolate as your first fundraiser http://www.fundraising.com.au/ Sell only $1.20 chocolates, the$2.50 ones are very slow sellers Don’t bother with guilt free options (1 box at most) Minimum of 15 boxes $432 cost (due in 30 days) $432 profit Staff of 50 will clear 15 boxes a term ($1728 p.a.) Very low theft rate Put faces on your chocolate box

15. 7 steps to a great notice board Beg, borrow or steal a notice board in the staff room Paint it red Use black electrical tape to divide it up into sections Using the printer and some funky fonts create some headings What we do Why join the union? Who are my reps? Meeting dates! Current info Put some content under those headings. Use brochures that the union sends. Set time each week to change what’s on the board, even if it means just swapping out some posters. You want people to be interested! Encourage people to look at the board by running a weekly competition to answer a question. E.g. How much does a graduate teacher pay to join per month? Prizes could be a chocolate bar or some highlighters.

16. A banner for your branch www.ausign.com Email ausign@bigpond.com Phone (03) 9419 0970 1m by 2m with pole sleeve and eyelets Has sub-branch name on it $253 delivery inclusive Great for any sub-branch event or strike action!

17. Join Teachers’ Alliance http://www.teachers-alliance.org For a dynamic and strong AEU!