IEU member’s win: Mt Hira heroics
On behalf of all members and their colleagues at Mt Hira College, Keysborough, the IEU thanks Rep Rebecca Sim and her campaigning crew who negotiated so passionately and professionally to achieve their school’s first-ever Agreement.
They recruited strongly around the negotiations, more than doubling membership at the College, and totally remodelled teacher’s rights by winning 14 weeks of paid parental leave where previously there was none.
It’s extremely welcome for three pregnant staff members!
Rebecca, who has been at Mt Hira for eight years, says the school was close to getting an EBA signed but the pandemic intervened, and it was put on hold. We asked her a few questions about how her team sealed the historic deal.
Why did you step up as IEU Rep last year?
“I watched many of my female colleagues leave the school because paid maternity leave wasn’t available. I believe, as a woman in this profession, that we should be supported to have both a career and a family. This was a big driving force behind why I decided to step in and get the EBA back on the table.”
How would you describe the bargaining experience? What advice do you have for others who are considering representing their colleagues?
“The experience was intimidating at first, because we didn’t have a lot of union members at the school, so it was a very small group of professionals trying to improve our working conditions. As the process continued it felt really empowering to be supported by leadership and colleagues to strive for a better working environment.
“I would tell others to go for it because it creates positive change. If teachers feel supported and valued, then we are better at our jobs. The students and school community as a whole benefit from improved working conditions for teachers and education support staff.”
What impact do you think the paid parental leave win will have on teachers and the school community?
“This will have a huge impact! It will be an incentive to stay at the school, which provides consistency for the students here, and also for teachers’ own families.”
How will you and other members seek to build on this first Agreement in the future?
“We hope to continue to build support and unite staff members to strive for a happy, healthy and safe working environment.”