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-branchA 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 unionsImproved morale and work environment

3. Every sub-branch needs…

4. What sort of people?PassionateWilling to take risksNumbers! You will need aPresidentSecretaryTreasurerWomen’s RepresentativeES RepresentativeYou may need to pass motions to create some of these positions!

5. What are the temporal needs?Time for meetings Time for celebrationsTime for promoting and recruitingTime for planningTime for fundraisingTime for reflecting

6. What are the financial needs?Money for non-free union training e.g. graduates conferenceMoney for running the sub-branchMoney for celebrationsMoney 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 ideasWhat 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 panelsHow 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. TimeYou 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 startPlan for sub-branch meetings and executive meetings for the yearGet the treasurer to order some chocolateGet a notice board in the staff room

13. MeetingsAim for 1 meeting for every 4 teaching weeks for both the sub-branch and the executiveKeep 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 fundraiserhttp://www.fundraising.com.au/Sell only $1.20 chocolates, the$2.50 ones are very slow sellersDon’t bother with guilt free options (1 box at most)Minimum of 15 boxes$432 cost (due in 30 days) $432 profitStaff of 50 will clear 15 boxes a term ($1728 p.a.)Very low theft ratePut faces on your chocolate box

15. 7 steps to a great notice boardBeg, borrow or steal a notice board in the staff roomPaint it redUse black electrical tape to divide it up into sectionsUsing the printer and some funky fonts create some headingsWhat we doWhy join the union?Who are my reps?Meeting dates!Current infoPut 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 branchwww.ausign.comEmail ausign@bigpond.comPhone (03) 9419 09701m by 2m with pole sleeve and eyeletsHas sub-branch name on it$253 delivery inclusiveGreat for any sub-branch event or strike action!

17. Join Teachers’ Alliancehttp://www.teachers-alliance.orgFor a dynamic and strong AEU!