Chance of resolution passed over

IEU officers and reps handed over petitions carrying the signatures of thousands of members in September calling for a resolution to the Catholic school dispute.

Each of the 11 dioceses in NSW and the ACT had a visit from an IEU delegation, who handed over the petitions calling for employers to enter negotiations on the right to arbitration.

IEU Secretary John Quessy said the Union offered the employers a chance to resolve the dispute without the need for industrial action.

However, that opportunity was not accepted.

In Parramatta, Patricia Murnane, McCarthy Catholic College Emu Plains and Antony Walsh, St Mark’s Catholic College Stanhope Gardens, delivered a petition with 1460 signatures to the CEO.

At the Wollongong Diocese, IEU Support Staff Vice President Carolyn Collins, South Coast Sub Branch President Val Jones and Holy Spirit College Rep Katrina Pickering handed over a petition of more than 1000 signatures.

IEU Reps Michael Namrell, Jeff Pratt, Jenny Allen and Ern Sandral and IEU Officer Sandra White attended Lismore CEO to hand over the petition signed by 100s of members from 44 schools.

At the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese, the delegation presented an articulate argument regarding the importance of arbitration, and a petition with more than 2000 names on it.

At the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, IEU Reps Dave Connor, St Mary Mackillop College and Alison Marks, Rosary Primary Catholic School, handed over the petition signed by more than a 1000 members.