For everyone Legal news: Standing up for our members

Late last year, we commenced a Federal Court proceeding that examines the extent of principals’ power to direct employees to attend an examination by an ‘independent’ medical examiner (IME). We believe this power can be misused to deal with interpersonal difficulties and conduct issues, with drastic consequences for teachers or ES who get a medical report that doesn’t clear them to work.

The case in point is a member who had endured family violence, resulting in health conditions, and was directed by her principal to attend an IME. The AEU is supporting this member to challenge the principal’s directions.

We are also assisting a Koori Engagement Support Officer member who attended a school to support a student who, along with their family, had been racially abused and vilified. Their concerns were not addressed, and they were asked to leave, with a false claim that the police had been called to remove them.

The AEU has commenced a proceeding in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia on behalf of this member.

And, in the County Court, we have an ongoing penalty hearing against Bendigo Kangan Institute, which has admitted to contravening various security of employment provisions in the 2018 TAFE agreement. We await the Court’s findings.