The IEU is currently negotiating improved pay and conditions for members in a range of independent schools.
AIS Schools
Members in schools represented by the Association of Independent Schools (AIS) are covered by multi-enterprise agreements (MEAs) in place until January 2025. The IEU has suggested members may wish to approach their schools for a one-off payment of at least 1% of salary to assist in meeting cost of living pressures. Please contact your organiser if you would like them to attend a Chapter meeting on this issue.
The IEU has advised the AIS that we expect significant pay increases on the expiry of the current agreement. The new bargaining rules under the Fair Work Act that commenced on 6 June this year will assist us in achieving these increases.
Independent Christian schools
Teachers and support staff in a small number of Christian schools (including the Pacific Group) are covered by MEAs that the IEU negotiated with the AIS separately from the other MEAs in 2019-2020. About 25 Christian schools have issued Notices of Employee Representational Rights to teachers and support staff, to initiate bargaining through the AIS. This group of schools includes a number previously represented by Christian Schools Australia.
The IEU has provided a claim to the AIS and will be consulting with members. We are seeking pay increases for support staff in line with those recently received by members in Catholic systemic schools. In relation to teachers, any increases will need to take account of anticipated increases in teacher pay in NSW government and Catholic systemic schools.
The IEU will also shortly commence negotiations with Christian Schools Australia for a new MEA for teachers in the three ACT Christian schools. The recent ACT public sector settlement for teachers will be very much in mind when we develop the IEU claim on behalf of members.
Catholic independent schools
Negotiations are underway with Catholic Employment Relations (CER) over new enterprise agreements for members employed in Catholic independent schools.
There are seven Model A Catholic independent schools that have traditionally followed the three band standards teacher pay structure of the AIS but in other respects have pay and conditions aligned to other Catholic schools. These schools did not make new MEAs when the existing Model A Teacher and Support Staff MEAs expired in December 2020 but have paid administrative pay increases in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The IEU is seeking that the schools match the improvements in conditions that we have achieved in Catholic systemic schools, particularly the improved paid parental leave for both parents. We will be consulting with members about the pay and conditions offer received from CER on 29 May.
We have also been meeting with CER concerning new enterprise agreements to apply to teachers and support staff in about 20 Model B schools (including EREA schools) and about 10 Model C schools. The existing EAs expired in December 2021. The IEU is seeking that these schools match the pay rises achieved for support staff in Catholic systemic schools and conditions (such as improved parental leave). We have made clear that teacher pay rises need to consider cost-of-living increases and ensure teacher pay remains competitive. CER has advised that an offer will be provided to the IEU shortly.
Bargaining has also just commenced for a new EA for support staff employed in the three ACT Catholic independent schools.
Final word
Do not hesitate to call your IEU organiser for further details about these negotiations.