Ku-ring-gai Sub Branch
The Ku-ring-gai Sub Branch includes schools, colleges and early childhood centres in the northern suburbs and north shore of Sydney.
The Ku-ring-gai Sub Branch meets at Hornsby RSL Club on the Tuesday afternoon of Week 3 every term.
The Term 2 meeting involved a mix of primary and secondary teachers and support staff, Ku-ring-gai IEU Organiser Charles Wheeler and guest Peter Criticos – also an IEU Organiser.
Constructive discussions were had around NESA accreditation, changes to federal industrial laws and of course the IEU’s strong support for a ‘yes’ vote in the upcoming Voice referendum.
But by far the hottest topic of conversation were developments in the Diocese of Broken Bay. Members, Reps and IEU officers have worked tirelessly over many months to have our voices heard – the resulting effect being the new Broken Bay specific Enterprise Agreeemnt and Work Practices Agreement, containing a broad swathe of improvements.
Members are delighted with Broken Bay pay rates which sit 1.5% above those in the Department of Education and are most encouraged by the inclusion of a ‘pay protection clause’ in their agreement which guarantees that any improvements gained in the Department be immediately passed on to Broken Bay employees. The significant wins in parental leave improvements were also lauded.
The positive reaction from members to the Work Practices Agreement (WPA) inclusion of vastly improved support for early career teachers was most telling.
First-year-out teachers will now receive an additional two hours of timetabled release, and their mentors will receive one hour per week. Members applauded this significant union win.
Our next meeting will be held at 4.30pm at Hornsby RSL on Tuesday 4 August. If you are an interested Ku-ring-gai Sub Branch unionist, it would be lovely to have you there!
Charles Wheeler Organiser
Central West Sub Branch
The Central West Sub Branch includes schools, colleges and early childhood centres in Bathurst, Lithgow, Dubbo, Orange and Bourke and surrounding areas.
Catholic systemic schools members are disappointed that Catholic Education Diocese of Bathurst (CEDB) has little interest in settling the WPA or improving support for beginning teachers.
IEU organisers are mapping schools where 84 early career teachers are employed and will survey them to see what support, if any, they or their mentors and supervisors receive.
Results so far show it is ad hoc, with some yet to receive any. It’s not good enough that the CEDB claim they are the most generous of dioceses in this regard.
Some schools are still struggling to employ teachers and yet there seems to be little apparent incentive offered by the employer to entice teachers to the Central West.
A good example of this is Cowra, a well serviced country town, but our school is struggling to find teachers, to the point where a conditionally qualified teacher with less than one year’s teaching experience is coordinating two subject areas.
The sub branch also appreciates the opportunity for IEU Reps to attend Reps Training in Dubbo prior to the next meeting and acknowledges this training has the support of the CEDB Director Christina Trimble.
The sub branch congratulates the union for its perseverance in achieving pay increases for support staff and improvements to paternity leave in what was a difficult industrial climate.
This would not have been achieved without the support of those members who took stop work action in solidarity.
We should remind non-members of this and encourage them to join as we continue the fight for improved teachers’ salaries and manageable workloads.
I encourage support staff to wear their green stickers with pride and encourage the non-members who gladly accept the pay rises without contributing to the fight to join the IEU.
Independent schools are also struggling to get a 1% OOPS (one-off payments) to offset the unprecedented cost of living pressures facing staff and to recognise their hard work and loyalty in recent years. At least one school is categorically refusing despite overwhelming support from staff.
The Central West Sub Branch supports the ‘yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum and would note that it was the motion from this branch that was put before IEU Council last year.
In the early childhood sector, it is exciting to know that many items on the IEU’s list of actions presented to Dr Aly at last November’s roundtable discussion has been adopted and backed by the Federal Government to create a more sustainable ECEC workforce.
Hopefully they will continue to take heed of our recommendations and put in place measures to address low pay, workload issues and teacher shortages which are causing a workforce crisis in this profession.
Patrick Devery Organiser
Cumberland Sub Branch
The Cumberland Sub Branch includes schools, colleges and early childhood centres in Parramatta, Mt Druitt, Castle Hill, Marsden Park, Blacktown and nearby suburbs.
The Cumberland Sub-Branch met on 15 May at Club Blacktown.
The concerns raised by chapters reflect the pressures felt by schools in meeting student needs, covering classes, increases in absence and staffing shortages.
Some Catholic systemic schools reported changes being made to timetabling without staff consultation. This is having a detrimental impact as teachers are required to swap classes, change the required planning and in worst case scenarios, change their family commitments if there are after-school classes.
Other schools, mostly independent, are reporting issues in their dealings with HR and how records of conversations and commitments are not being followed through.
Two common issues arising are beginning teachers and their ability to access structured and consistent support; and meetings being called with principals and/or HR and the tone of the meeting changing to that of performance.
We advised Reps that it is crucial to seek advice if they are not sure before committing to anything and with regards to meetings, to ensure that they are accessing support, taking minutes and maintaining confidentiality should matters regress.
Upcoming meetings are on Monday 31 July and 6 November.
Where Reps cannot attend, we encourage them to invite other members to attend to represent their Chapters.
Lubna Haddad Organiser/Cumberland Sub Branch Convenor