Support staff pay rise

Support staff at St Francis Xavier Hamilton proudly wear their stickers which say: ‘we got a pay rise, ask me for a form and join our union’. Catholic systemic support staff have benefitted from pay rises because of the work of the union. The union only gains strength from its members.

IEU members in Catholic systemic schools have been advised of the interim settlement agreement. For support staff, the settlement delivers parity with government school employees and backpay. The door is also open for further discussion for teachers.

This has been a long time coming – the best part of four years. Support staff in Catholic systemic school now have pay comparable to staff in government schools. It is appropriate to note the sterling work undertaken by the support staff joint working party. Their countless meetings comparing the work of Catholic systemic support staff with government school support staff is finally bearing fruit.

Teacher workload

Members in schools are feeling the brunt of the teacher shortage crisis. Class splitting, class sharing, and supervising multiple classes and large numbers of students in halls and libraries, all remain realities of the teacher experience. The long rebuild has commenced. The IEU has met formally with the NSW Deputy Premier and Education Minister, Prue Car concerning both teacher salaries and teacher workload. The Deputy Premier will address the IEU’s June Council.

Recently, NESA provided clarification on programming requirements and the manual related to school inspections. The IEU will meet with Catholic Schools NSW to discuss how best to ensure NESA developments lead to changes in professional practice.

NESA requirements should be considered the seminal document and systemic overlays must be reviewed urgently to ensure teacher morale is lifted. Educational leaders should not be using NESA compliance as an excuse to load teachers with extra work.

Teacher workload issues are manifold, but rest assured, the ongoing negotiation on behalf of teachers will focus on workload and unsupported initiative will be challenged. Rebuilding the profession will take time but the future is looking brighter.

Members of the Support Staff Working Party
Carolyn Moore, IEU Industrial Officer
Michael Wright, IEU Industrial Officer
Kylie Booth- Martinez, Vice-President Support Staff, IEU Executive
Carolyn Collins, former Vice-President Support Staff, IEU Executive
Belinda McRae, IEU support staff member, ACT
(Plus committee members from the employers)

Mark Northam Secretary

For more details on the interim settlement agreement click here