Catholic systemic schools: Check your pay rates

IEU members in Catholic systemic schools have been travelling with the union on a long road to achieving important victories regarding pay and entitlements in their new Enterprise Agreement (EA).

Since July of last year, when the union laid out our claim for improved conditions in the new EA, the bargaining process has been marred by a brutal bushfire season preceding the current COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout, members have against all odds, engaged with the campaign, meeting in IEU chapters to endorse the union’s negotiating position.

In November 2019, Catholic school employers advised the union of their agreement to match pay increases for teachers in NSW and ACT government schools as part of an overall package. However, in late April 2020, they put negotiations on hold, with no commitment as to when they would recommence. Expected pay rises necessary to re-establish pay parity with wages paid in NSW government schools, from January 2020 (and for the ACT teachers from July 2020) had not been paid. Interim payments were ruled out while negotiations were paused.

Thank you to all of you for sticking with us on this long road - let’s finish strong. Remember to vote, remind your colleagues to vote, and encourage others to join the union so they can also vote for improved wages, conditions and entitlements!

Dioceses had walked away from discussions addressing workload as well as pay rises and other conditions in the EA. The union responded: “to further delay bargaining beyond Week 7 because of COVID-19 is unreasonable and unfair to our members carrying out their work with such commitment.”

IEU chapters responded to the union’s request and held union meetings to call on their dioceses to resume bargaining with the union. With strong member action, the union secured confirmation of all 11 dioceses’ renewed willingness to pay the 2.5% salary increase for principals, teachers and support staff, (3% for ACT teachers).

Members began receiving this union negotiated pay increase from August, with an additional back payment of the overdue amount from 1 January 2020.

In addition, the union has achieved improvements in teacher workloads in most dioceses.

Your new pay rates are reflected below:

NSW Teachers
Annual salary from pay period on or after 1 January 2021 – 2.28% increase

Band 1 (Graduate)$72,263
Band 2 (Proficient Teacher) Level 1$87,157
Band 2 (Proficient Teacher) Level 2$87,157
Band 2 (Proficient Teacher) Level 3$94,601
Band 2 (Proficient Teacher) Level 4$98,330
Band 2 (Proficient Teacher) Level 5$107,779
Band 3 (Highly Accomplished)$114,720


NSW Coordinator
Annual allowance from pay period on or after 1 January 2021 – 2.28% increase

Coordinator 1$8,380
Coordinator 2$16,756
Coordinator 3$25,135


ACT Teachers
Annual salary from pay period on or after 1 July 2020 – 3% increase

Band 1 (Graduate)$73,245
Band 2 (Proficient Teacher) Level 1$88,846
Band 2 (Proficient Teacher) Level 2$88,846
Band 2 (Proficient Teacher) Level 3$96,643
Band 2 (Proficient Teacher) Level 4$103,145
Band 2 (Proficient Teacher) Level 5$109,645
Band 3 (Highly Accomplished)$116,220


ACT Coordinator
Annual salary from pay period on or after 1 July 2020 – 3% increase

Coordinator 0.5$119,751
Coordinator 1.0$126,542

General Employees (School Terms only) – NSW and ACT
Per hour from pay period on or after 1 January 2021 – 2.28% increase

Classification Level and Step$
1.1
22.11
1.223.87
2.124.07
2.225.09
2.325.55
3.128.29
3.228.40
3.328.51
3A28.90
4.128.90
4.230.86
4.332.81
534.50
639.21

Refer to the enterprise agreement for other promotion positions and the full set of pay rates.

Let’s finish strong – vote for your improved wages

Congratulations to all of our members on this hard fought and won victory, these negotiations have been a precarious journey, but continued application of collective action has secured the deserved salary increases you are now enjoying.

The EA will soon be put to members for a final vote before it can be approved. Despite the understandable relief at having the dollars and cents of this agreement secured, we ask you to please stick with us as we enter into this final phase. It is vital that chapters and members remain engaged in this process to legitimise the agreement.

The improved conditions and entitlements being voted on are meaningful ones: natural disaster leave; domestic violence leave; improved teacher pay classification rules; and a clear roadmap towards support staff pay parity are all there for the taking. We’re asking for a final push to help us get this in the bag.

Thank you to all of you for sticking with us on this long road – let’s finish strong.

Vote yes – and remind your colleagues to vote

Remember to vote, remind your colleagues to vote, and encourage others to join the union so they can also vote for improved wages, conditions and entitlements.