In-principle Agreement reached!
On 28 August 2024, we reached in-principal agreement with Catholic Education Tasmania on all of the key issues in dispute. While there is a lot to unpack and many details to finalise, below is an outline of your key wins.
This is your win!
After such lengthy delays, your strength and preparedness to take industrial action has broken the deadlock and allowed progress on achieving the Agreement that you deserve. You have demonstrated the power of solidarity – it is only through collective action as union members that we can achieve improved wages and conditions.
We’d like to whole-heartedly congratulate you on your solidarity and thank you for your ongoing support and campaigning throughout these complex negotiations.
The focus now shifts to drafting and we will provide more details to members as this progresses. IEU staff will also be out to provide details about the deal. A full draft of the new Enterprise Agreement will be available to everyone ahead of a vote.
We expect voting to occur in October.
Watch the video below for a look back at the campaign for a new Agreement, featuring an original song about the campaign by The IEU All Stars!
We will continue to update all IEU members on the progress of the new Agreement. Please keep your eye on your emails and our social media channels.
Learn more about the campaign for a new Agreement below
Listen to IEU General Secretary David Brear on ABC News Hobart
14 August 2024
Survey reveals staff grievances in Tasmanian Catholic schools
The employees of Catholic Education Tasmania have spoken out – and their words ought to make chastening reading for their employers during negotiations for a long overdue Agreement.
The Tasmanian Catholic Education Agreement expired back in September 2021, and the IEU tabled a Log of Claims in February 2022. Our colleagues in government schools finalised their new Agreement in April 2023.
But we’re still waiting…
Rather than seeking to ensure that Tasmanian Catholic schools remain competitive with government schools, employers are digging in their heels over simply unreasonable claims such as:
The ability to forcibly transfer staff between schools
Extending the school year
Re-writing important hard-won clauses such as the scope of Consultative Committees.
At the same time, they are pushing back against our claims which would ensure that Catholic school staff are not left behind.
IEU members in Catholic schools deserve the following improvements:
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 reduction in additional duties for secondary teachers
Increased paid parental leave, with superannuation payments
Top-up payments for Deputy Principals and Education Officers
Better access to personal leave for all staff
More guaranteed preparation time for teachers
Paid preparation time for Teachers Assistants
IEU members have been taking action to demand a new Agreement!
Timeline of Tasmanian
Catholic Education bargaining
15 February 2022
Following extensive member consultation, the Independent Education Union provided a Log of Claims to the Tasmanian Catholic Education Office Bargaining Team.
15 March
IEU met with TCEO, and explained our log of claims in detail.
23 May
The employers issued the Notice of Employee Representational Rights.
15 June
IEU emailed TCEO seeking date for a bargaining meeting.
The TCEO fails to respond, and continues to refuse to meet with the IEU in person. TCEO claims it is consulting directly with staff through a ‘portal’, but cannot satisfactorily explain how this ‘consultation’ will operate.
8 August
IEU made an application to the Fair Work Commission for good faith bargaining orders. Through this process we were able to get commitment from the TCEO to meet with us on three scheduled dates, including at least once in person.
6 + 26 October
The parties met online. Limited progress.
7 December
The TCEO met in person with IEU bargaining representatives at their lawyer’s office in Melbourne
Early 2023
Thanks to a change of personel on the TCEO bargaining team, regular in-person meetings resumed - however, progress has been far too slow, with employers apparently determined to undercut conditions in government schools.
Mid-2023
The TCEO continues to resist crucial workload-busting measures that would bring Catholic schools closer into line with Tasmanian Government schools. They also, after 18 months of negotiations, table unnacceptable new claims to extend the working year and allow the forcible relocation of staff between schools.
November
IEU Reps from Catholic schools met and determined that we would commence member campaigning in Term 1 2024 if employer representatives continue to fail to bring an acceptable position to the bargaining table.
March 2024
‘Campaign Blitz Week’ sees dozens of schools committing to take action to build awareness of the bargaining impasse and to put pressure on employers to revise their position.
July
We have had four meetings with the TCEO since March and there is some progress. However, many of our claims are still in discussion and awaiting formal response.
August
The IEU meets with Catholic Education Tasmania for a full day of bargaining negotiations and IEU member’s endorsement of the PABO resulted in real momentum at the table. The deal isn’t done but we appear to have moved closer to agreement around some key issues that we know really matter to members.
IEU members begin to undertake industrial action in the form of partial work bans. The IEU meets again with the Employers during this time and the parties are able to reach in-principle Agreement on some of the key issues that were of importance to IEU members.
A history of winning -
Tasmanian Catholic Campaign 2014/15
When we stand together, we win!
This video showcases the historic industrial action of IEU members in Tasmanian Catholic education during their inspiring campaign to win a new EBA in 2014/15. It’s a timely reminder of the power of solidarity as they again fight to secure overdue improved pay and conditions in a new Agreement.
