IEU embarks on a year of change and action
After undergoing a thorough strategic review process, the IEU Office has implemented key changes to service delivery for members, making the start of the school year even more exciting than usual for the union. Here’s what’s happening at the IEU:
Streamlining Member Services
The Member Services Unit (MSU) is coming online during Term 1. Soon, when members call the union, they will speak to an MSU specialist who can provide expert advice, representation and assistance on a wide range of workplace issues.
The MSU experts have experience in everything from bargaining negotiations to long service leave entitlements. If they don’t have an immediate answer for a caller, they will quickly refer them to the appropriate industrial officer or administrator.
This change is designed to streamline the industrial and legal services we provide to members and to ensure that IEU Organisers are out in schools focussing on supporting sub-branches and building member power across our workplaces.
Members needing advice or support should continue to contact the IEU office via phone, email or web enquiry.
Enhancing Training Opportunities
Many IEU members and Reps praise the union’s training sessions, but busy schedules often make attendance difficult. To address this, Organisers will now help identify sessions that best suit members at their schools to ensure more members benefit from the priceless learning, networking, and problem-solving opportunities offered by training days.
These improvements will also help Reps and members take advantage of new federal laws granting all elected Reps paid leave to attend union training days.
Victorian Catholic Education Campaign
This year, the IEU launches a campaign for a new Agreement in Victorian Catholic education to improve and protect pay and conditions. Planning for this has been underway since mid-2024.
The last Agreement delivered many wins for members, including historic reductions to teacher scheduled class time and a big boost to minimum starting rates for Education Support Staff. However, this Agreement will be focused on significant, much needed wage increases.
To achieve meaningful inroads into cost of living crisis for members, the IEU will campaign hard and build strength. In Term 1, Organisers will take the first step, visiting as many workplaces as possible to gather members’ perspectives. A detailed survey sent to all members in the sector will be followed by focus groups to ensure all members have many chances to have their say as we develop our Log of Claims.
The union is calling on members to “keep the conversation going” in their workplaces, and by ensuring that all non-members (especially new staff) understand the importance of this campaign and are invited to join the union.
The largest employer in the sector, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS), continues to expand, reporting a nearly 4% rise in secondary school enrolments and a 2% increase in primary schools last year. That won’t be the only surge in demand MACS faces in 2025!
Independent thinking
The Catholic campaign is important, but just as important is the union’s work in the fast-growing independent school sector.
We are busy negotiating new Agreements protecting and improving salaries and conditions in independent schools in Victoria and Tasmania, with 10 new Agreements already approved this year, bargaining underway in 20 workplaces, and another 3 awaiting endorsement at the Fair Work Commission.
That pace won’t let up all year, as more Organisers and Reps work with members in schools of all stripes.
Tasmanian wait is nearly over
At long last, the new Tasmanian Catholic Agreement is ready for an all-staff vote.
Catholic Education Tasmania has committed to circulating the draft Agreement to all employees by 3 February, with an access period (including staff information sessions) running until 13 February, after which the formal ballot will be held.
If supported by a majority of employees, the Agreement will be then provided to the Fair Work Commission for endorsement, following which the many wins in this Agreement will come into legally binding operation.
We are of course encouraging IEU members to vote YES! to the proposed Agreement. After years of diligent and persistent campaigning, it’s time to start gaining the benefit of these vital workload improvements.