“Get on with it!” – Members demand action on a deal from Catholic Education Tasmania

IEU members in Tasmanian Catholic schools are fed up with the pace of bargaining on a new Agreement for their sector, which has now dragged on for 18 months.

The union encouraged members to write to Catholic Education Tasmania with their concerns and forward their correspondence to the union, and the result was thousands of words of frustration about teacher shortages, pay inequities and conditions still not matching those of colleagues working in government schools.

“It is not justifiable for teachers in the Catholic sector to be underpaid and therefore undervalued,” wrote one member. “The teaching profession is now in a state of crisis regarding the number of employees. Every school is feeling the pain of not having enough teachers to cover classes. It is self-sabotage to think people are going to continue or sign up to work if they are undervalued. Teachers’ goodwill has diminished, and people are feeling burnt out.

“It time to show that the people on the ground are worth listening to and grant them in good faith what they deserve.”

Other issues of concern raised by CET claims included:

• the ability to forcibly transfer staff between schools

• an increase in the number of days that teachers can be required to work

• a reduction in the scope of the Consultative Committees

• extending the period of notice that teachers are required to give on resignation.

One member captured many complaints succinctly:

“We are sick and tired of waiting for the new agreement to be finalised. 

“It is not good enough to bring new claims to the table at such late notice.

“It is not good enough to stall for so long. 

“It is not good enough that our conditions are not matched with those working in government schools. 

“It is not good enough that an organisation so heavily focussed on social justice does not practise what it preaches. 

“Come on CET. Get your act together!”

Another member reminded the CET that the cost-of-living crisis was putting staff under enormous pressure.

Of special concern are:

• full payment of the Lower Income Payments delivered in government schools

• a reduction in scheduled class time for primary teachers (to match government schools)

• a better School Support Employees classification and wages structure

• improved paid parental leave entitlements

• top-up payments for Deputy Principals and Education Officers

• 15 days personal leave for all staff

• workload reductions for graduate teachers and mentors

• limits to meetings.

“The sooner we have an agreement the better for us all.”

Another correspondent pointed out the tardy timeline of bargaining.

“To not have made a reasonable effort to bargain when our old agreement expired in September 2021, and the IEU tabled a log of claims in February 2022 is simply not good enough.”

CET’s late claim to enable it to forcibly transfer staff from one school to another “shows a complete disregard for the mental health of that staff member, their professionality, their workplace history and preference, and their family and home life arrangements”, wrote one member.

“It treats teachers like pawns on a chessboard, being able to be moved around in order to be able to fill a void or solve an equation.”

That member said forced transfers will cause only “misery, increased pressure, instability and fear” for teachers.

The increase to the number of days teachers are required to work was described as “a smack in the face” for teachers.

“To push for this would be to totally disrespect all the extra unpaid work that teachers do on a continual basis, and the continual and increasing additions to their teaching loads...”

There were also concerns about attempts to lessen the scope of matters Consultative Committees can cover in their meetings with Principals.

“This is one of the few valuable means that staff have to consult and communicate with their Principals in a meaningful and collective way and should not be eroded in any way.”

CET was told that worsening working conditions would exacerbate teacher shortages. 

“The CET should give up stalling and pushing for these detrimental changes to our award, and come back to the table of genuine, in-good-faith negotiations with the IEU in recognition of the valuable work staff in Catholic schools already do. We have been very patient with the length of these negotiations - but enough is enough!”