Insecure work in Catholic schools

There is still an unacceptably high level of Fixed-Term Contract (FTC) use in our schools. Often, a simple conversation is all that is required to get illegitimate fixed-term contracts converted to ongoing contracts. 

This is especially prevalent in the Catholic primary school sector, where a third of Education Support Staff employees are on a fixed- term contracts.

Some of these contracts meet the criteria set out in the current VCEMEA agreement. Many do not. 

The IEU has been working with many schools to do an audit of their fixed-term contracts to help determine if they reflect the legitimate reasons detailed in the Agreement. The default position for employment is ongoing and FTCs are only permitted for specific reasons. 

The union has had a great deal of success where we have been able to utilise the collective strength of members to work together to challenge the legitimacy of employment contracts. Principals are often still unaware of the requirements for offering an ongoing contract, and many still erroneously use ‘annual funding’ as a reason. We have many examples where a simple conversation has been all that is required to move illegitimate fixed-term contracts converted to ongoing.  

St Peter’s in Keilor East, St Patrick’s in Kilmore and Loreto Mandeville Hall in Toorak are just three of the schools where we have worked closely with the school rep, the principal and the Learning Support Officers to get the majority converted to ongoing contracts, leaving only a couple of fixed-term contracts where they are necessary and conform with the Agreement.

Being a union member is about solidarity – working together for everyone’s benefit. Thank you to all of our members who have stepped up with us and got the job done. Our union is powerful because of you.  

Don’t know why you are on a fixed-term contract? Contact the IEU!

This article was originally published in The Point, V1, No1, 2021.