“A broken spring...Rusts that cling...Hard and curled and ready to snap.” TS Eliot wrote this line over a hundred years ago in his poem Rhapsody on a Windy Night.
We were exploring his imagery in class the other day, and I couldn’t help but align the image with observations of frazzled teachers, worn-out teachers, angry teachers, cantankerous teachers, defeated teachers, sad teachers, fiery teachers.
It’s difficult to see that we are making a difference when the ‘system’, at times, is an insurmountable obstacle, putting up roadblocks that sideline our work in classrooms.
Recent events shine a light on where the union is doing good work. Firstly, the union has secured improved pay and conditions for primary and secondary teachers and support staff in the Broken Bay Diocese for 2023.
The enterpise agreement with CSBB is unique because it is the first that has set the pace for other dioceses to catch-up. The employer has noted the impact of depressed salaries, work intensification, teachers’ lack of agency, support staff pay disparity, and has accelerated the move to rectify these issues, in ‘record time’.
The IEU has ensured that taking this step forward benefits all members; the timely manner in which the CSBB has moved on consultations and negotiations with the union, means that the substantial outcomes recognise the value of teachers as professionals and the essential work performed by support staff.
I am pleased the ‘yes’ vote on the CSBB Enterprise Agreement 2023 was passsed for teachers and support staff, as the IEU recommended. On 26 May, the IEU and CER have also signed a Joint Statement regarding the Interim Settlement Agreement made with the 10 remaining NSW and ACT dioceses. In a wait-and-see strategy, the Catholic employer at least, will honour pay rises for key classifications of support staff and improved parental leave.
Another significant event was the union’s Essential Workers Deserve Better NSW Parliamentary Delegation on 24 May.
Attended by Mark Northam and Carol Matthews, along with Deputy President Libby Lockwood and myself, the day was historic! The doors of Labor Ministers were open, and an air of expectant optimism welcomed our delegations, as the 12 years of shunning by the former NSW government melted into the ether.
Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Costis addressed essential workers and immediatelywe knew that the situation for workers in NSW was going to transform under the tutelage of Minister Cotsis.
The day was heartening. People were listening. Voices were heard. The meeting with Deputy Premier Prue Car, Minister for Education and Early Learning, and Minister for Western Sydney, was a personal highlight. She gets us. She knows. And I’m glad!
I appreciated the opportunity afforded me by Unions NSW Secretary Mark Morey to deliver a speech at the Parliamentary Luncheon to Premier Chris Minns and the Labor Caucus, union delegates and officials. I spoke as a full-time teacher, drawing on decades of experience and active unionism, to tell my story.
To be in the room, as a representative of the IEU, with a newly elected government eager to listen and learn, real in their promise to demolishing the pay cap, was epic!
The IEU is here and ready to serve.