Members in Catholic schools throughout NSW and the ACT are to be congratulated for the steadfast stand they have taken to protect their current conditions and for the persistence of their protest.
The intention of Catholic employers to minimise the enforceable entitlements in Enterprise Agreements and to return to an era of grace and favour where little if anything is guaranteed has been rejected by Union members time and again since first proposed by CCER in April.
Following three hour stop work action and rallies earlier in the year, thousands of members recently gathered in their workplaces, at local venues and on street corners to hear a report back on negotiations and to again confirm their support for the IEU position of not surrendering hard won entitlements. Members know that they are the custodians of their conditions and have sent a clear warning that this campaign is not over and will not be as long as employers insist on diminishing conditions and reducing entitlements.
In addition to preserving the status quo, members insist that the long period of work intensification without additional resources must stop. Deteriorating system support has paralleled increasing demands on teachers and support staff and this continues.
Despite many hours of discussion and negotiation, employers continue to insist that staff in Catholic schools be accredited in Religious Education and maintain that accreditation with no additional compensation or support guaranteed in the agreement. They have not unequivocally removed requirements for PD to be undertaken on weekends and in school holiday periods, nor conceded a 30 minute lunch break.
The offensive “ethos” clause, which would have the effect of denying fundamental civil rights to employees, remains unchanged.
The studied miserableness that permeates the employers' demands is captured by what is on offer for support and operational staff, with a proposal to reduce the minimum start times from three to two hours and an insulting proposal in respect of split shifts.
The Union will continue to meet with and negotiate with CCER towards an acceptable Enterprise Agreement but as is clear there is much still contested and unresolved. There is no prospect of a final agreement that can be put to a vote this term. Even if a resolution of outstanding matters was achieved, the consultation timelines demanded by the Fair Work Act would prohibit such a ballot.
The Union will make no further requests of members for protected industrial action this year. However everyone should continue to show their support by displaying their 3R badges, by wearing red on designated days and by taking every opportunity to discuss these issues with colleagues.
It’s time for employers to stop expecting exemplary student outcomes with mediocre resources, time to provide adequate time for world class induction and mentoring, time to ensure that every child accepted for enrolment has every opportunity to succeed. It’s time for Catholic employers to deliver on the contract they make with parents of students with disabilities, with learning difficulties and with behaviour problems by matching at least the resources of government schools.
Over 400 Chapters have indicated a determination to escalate this campaign in Term 1, 2015 if employers persist with these unreasonable demands.
The Union will provide a detailed report to members on the state of negotiations in the first weeks of the new year however unless the matters listed above are resolved Catholic schools can look forward to serious and ongoing industrial disputation in 2015.
