The clock is ticking on negotiations in Catholic systemic schools. The last pay rise was January 2019 for teachers in NSW Catholic schools and support staff in NSW and ACT Catholic schools. Teacher colleagues in NSW government schools have already receiveda 2.5% pay increase from the beginningof January this year. Support staff in NSW government schools received substantial pay rises in September 2019, not yet matched by Catholic employers.
The union has scheduled meetings with the Catholic Commission of Employment Relations (CCER) in February and March. Although CCER has agreed on behalf of the dioceses in principle with some of our claims – such as a better deal for casual teachers – key issues are outstanding.
The outstanding issues include improved pay progression for teachers on unpaid parental leave, greater clarity of the rights of temporary teachers to paid maternity leave and improved access to permanent positions for temporary teachers.
The union does not yet have a response to our claim for additional release time for primary and secondary teachers.
Negotiations are also continuing on the pay rises for support staff to match the government support staff pay rises and improved long service leave for support staff.
Issues such as caps on meeting times and other measures to address work intensification are being discussed directly with dioceses. The union has also been meeting with the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn to discuss the implications of the settlement for ACT public school teachers for teachers in ACT Catholic schools.