Long day care: Supported bargaining update
Negotiations for a supported bargaining agreement (SBA) to cover teachers and educators employed in long day care services run by 64 employers in NSW continued in February.
Everyone agrees significant pay increases and access to professional development are required to improve workforce attraction and retention, professionalism and service quality. The IEU is pushing hard for the SBA to provide for increased planning/non-contact time to help teachers to manage workload pressures. Federal Government representatives attended further meetings in February.
It is envisaged that the SBA will include the Educational Services (Teachers) Award conditions in addition to:
1.A substantial pay rise (unions are seeking a 25% increase on award rates of pay).
2.Greater access to paid time professional development.
3.A two-hour minimum engagement for part-time teachers.
4.Improved pay progression. If proficiency cannot be secured through no fault of the teacher, they may still progress to a higher classification.
5.Support for teachers to mentor early career teachers.
6.Access to long service leave in periods of at least one day.
7.Confirmation that no employee will suffer a reduction in their rate of pay or conditions where these are superior to those contained in the agreement.
8.A pathway to dispute resolution by the Fair Work Commission for issues arising in the SBA or National Employment Standards.
9.Recognition of union delegates.
10.Employer provision of ICT (computers, tablets) for work purposes.
QNT collective bargaining update
Collective bargaining for IEU-QNT members employed in affiliate community kindergarten and preschool services will continue throughout 2024, with members encouraged to voice their key concerns.
IEU-QNT Assistant Secretary Nicole Kapernick said members’ active involvement in recent collective bargaining has achieved significant protections for:
- classifications
- remuneration
- superannuation
- hours of duty, and
- allowances.
“In addition to the above, most affiliate kindergartens/preschools with active IEU members have collectively bargained for further improvements to working conditions and wages,” Nicole said.
These benefits include:
- superannuation employer contributions of up to 12.75%
- conversion of Senior Teacher allowance to a substantive salary
- introduction of Experienced Senior Teacher classification
- inclusion of a Senior Assistant’s allowance, and
- up to 20 days paid pandemic leave.
Nicole said collective bargaining for replacement agreements in C&K Branch services and Lady Gowrie Branch services would commence in the latter half of 2024.
“We strongly encourage IEU members employed by C&K and Lady Gowrie to become actively involved in bargaining and to contribute feedback to the surveys that will be forthcoming to inform the employee log of claims,” she said.
“The active engagement of members in the collective bargaining process contributes to our collective strength and will achieve better pay and conditions.
