IEU Organisers attended the Beginning Teachers’ Day for new staff in the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta recently. More than 100 new teachers gathered at Rooty Hill RSL for the first of four induction days to be held throughout the year.
All new teachers were presented with an IEU showbag by the Union, which included a membership form, IEU branded stickers, a lanyard, Post It notes, as well as specific information for new teachers, such as tips on how to quickly reach Proficient accreditation with NESA in order to earn higher pay.
IEU Organisers spoke to the new teachers about the benefits of Union membership, including having a voice in their profession, industrial support in workplace matters, legal protection in serious cases, advocacy to improve their pay and conditions, personal assistance to achieve higher levels of accreditation, provision of professional development for maintenance of accreditation, opportunities to attend Union events, belonging to a wider community of teachers and support staff working in the non government sector and tax deductible fees. Some of the new teachers were already IEU members, while others had previously been free student members of the IEU while at university.
If you’re reading this in your workplace, take the opportunity to speak to any new staff who may have started in 2019 about the benefits of being a member of the IEU.
The number one reason workers are not yet members of their Union is because they’ve never been asked to join.
New teachers and support staff should be encouraged to join their Union, and the most persuasive invitation comes from you – their co-worker who is an IEU member.
The IEU looks forward to attending more induction days throughout the year and speaking to the next generation of teachers and support staff about the importance of Union membership to both improving the pay and conditions in their profession and protecting their individual livelihood.