Uniting Early Learning

IEU Organiser Lisa James, IEU Delegates Giuliana Ricci and Amanda Salas and UWU have participated in five bargaining meetings to negotiate a new enterprise agreement to cover teachers, educators and administration employees employed in Uniting Early Learning preschools, long day care and out of school hours care services.

Negotiations are ending and the new enterprise agreement will include annual pay increases of at least 3%. Very experienced teachers will be paid over $100,000 per annum in 2023 if employed in long day care and in 2024 if employed in a preschool.

The agreement will include non-contact time of five hours per fortnight for educational leaders, a minimum of 16 hours per week office time for directors and a minimum of 2.75 hours per week programming for teachers, in addition to 30 minutes to prepare each individual Transition to School Statement.

KU Children’s Services

The KU Teachers Enterprise Agreement reached its nominal expiry date in 2021 and while negotiations for a new agreement have been delayed, KU teachers and directors received pay increases of 3% in 2022 and 4% in 2023.

Bargaining will commence on 21 June with KU, IEU Organisers Lisa James and Kate Damo, the AEU, UWU and IEU Delegates Michelle Lashbrook, Jane Oliver, Nicole Vesperman and Megan Parkes. The IEU’s Log of Claims includes annual increases to salaries and allowances, improvements to administration time for directors, non-contact time for educational leaders and the introduction of an Educational Leader Allowance.

Joint bid for supported bargaining

From 6 June, changes to the Fair Work Act make it easier for unions to bargain for enterprise agreements (EAs) with a group of employers. The IEU, with other unions, has lodged a joint application with the Fair Work Commission to allow supported baragaining for enterprise agreements covering employees in long day care centres. Employers must agree to be part of this process.

Want better pay?

The IEU is organising an online meeting for teachers in preschools: Securing better pay and conditions.

The best way for teachers in early education to achieve better pay and conditions is by having an enterprise agreement (EA).

Members who have negotiated agreements through the IEU enjoy the same pay and conditions as teachers in schools.

To find out how you can achieve better pay and conditions or how to renew your expired EA, join us via Zoom on Monday 19 June 4.30pm-6pm

Details: www.ieu.asn.au