Striking NECA teachers demand wage justice!

IEU members working at the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) Education and Careers are preparing to strike on Thursday 9 May, as their fight for competitive wages drags on into a second year.

WHERE:  NECA Education and Careers, 1024 Lygon St North Carlton

WHEN:  12pm, Thursday 9 May

WHY:  NECA teachers deserve equity!

NECA Education teachers – instructing the electricians of tomorrow – run trade courses equivalent to a TAFE Course, but they are working significantly more hours than TAFE counterparts, and their wages are not competitive with industry standards.

The IEU Rep for the NECA Education workforce, Nick Oakes, says the main sticking point in negotiations is that his employer “has failed to produce a decent percentage wage rate from January 2023 until now and beyond into 2025”.

“They have not given the teachers a single wage rise since 2022 even though we have had some of the worst inflation in recent history.”

Nick is proud of the work his colleagues do inspiring students to pursue a career in a growing sector.

“A good teacher is priceless and puts our young teenagers on a great path for a successful future.

“We grab that knowledge of maths, English and science that their high school teachers have ingrained in them and train them in a growing sector. We have a chance to inspire these young adults and unleash their wonderful imaginations so they can make decisions on how they want to lead their lives.”

Nick says the pay dispute shows up the differences “between a school that is prepared to invest in good teachers and a school that does not”.

Nick believes negotiations have taken so long because his employer underestimated its workforce “and thought we would take the first offer on the table”.

“But with the help of the IEU we have been able to sit down and have professional negotiations. NECA Education has never had a strong union presence before, and they still do not understand the power unleashed when people stick together as one in a union.”

Nick says, “it’s a great time to be in the electrical field”. With calls to “electrify everything” and “rewire the nation” as part of the push for a green future, there will be a massive need for electricians in coming years.

Australia needs these expert tradespeople, and they need the best training possible, which our colleagues at NECA Education provide. They deserve to be paid accordingly.

Nick says electricians are in demand because of the transition to renewable energy. They are installing and maintaining solar and wind energy and the associated batteries and making buildings more energy efficient.

That’s on top of all the new homes mooted for construction by government, large infrastructure projects, and private sector building and maintenance.

Because of the strong demand for more electricians, NECA Education is expected to grow strongly. To achieve that growth, it needs to ensure its teachers are appropriately valued.

Despite this, NECA Education is holding out on their workers, more than a year since members lodged their log of claims.

This strike action is only possible because NECA teachers have achieved over 90% union density in their workplaces. The unity generated from active Reps and engaged members led to strong action.

“Industrial action is helping the cause, because without the power of the union and the teachers sticking together, we would have had to accept an offer that was completely unfair.”

As unioinists, we can honour that solidarity by supporting our NECA colleagues.

Join NECA teachers as they don IEU colours and celebrate their resistance to underpayment!