The IEU hopes our principal members had an enjoyable Christmas and we wish you and your school communities a safe and healthy year ahead.
We also hope the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under increasing control so 2021 can proceed as normally as possible for schools after the many challenges of 2020.
Further to the IEU’s pre-Christmas principals’ update, the NSW/ACT Principals’ Enterprise Agreement covering 2020 and 2021 has been approved by the Fair Work Commission; and the EA for Sydney principals has now also been approved.
In the Sydney Archdiocese, the IEU is aware of a range of concerns about principals’ contracts. We have been supporting some individual principal members, as well as writing to Sydney Catholic Schools and to the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations (CCER) about the wording of contracts. These contract issues will be pursued as needed in relation to principals in Sydney and in other dioceses as may be appropriate.
In the independent schools’ sector, the IEU is still pursuing multi-enterprise agreement (MEA) negotiations with the Association of Independent Schools (AIS) to achieve agreements for teachers and support staff, knowing that the salaries and conditions of many principals in independent schools are linked to the MEA for teachers.
The IEU strongly believes that in these uncertain times, the clarity and certainty provided by enforceable agreements is more important than ever. The 2021 IEU Principals Sub Branch AGM will be held via Zoom on Saturday 13 February at 10am. Other Principals’ Sub Branch meetings will be held this year on Saturday 1 May; Saturday 7 August; and Saturday 6 November, with details to be confirmed.
The IEU also welcomes opportunities to meet with principals at diocesan or sector levels.
I offer my very best wishes for the year ahead. Please contact the IEU if we can be of support in any way, at any time.