The IEU is keen to recruit Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) teachers who work for St Nicholas Early Education, which are administered by the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.
While many of the centres are situated on the grounds of Catholic schools, the teachers that work in them may earn $22,000 a year less than their colleagues on the other side of the school fence.
Using the Secure Work Better Jobs Act reforms, passed by the Federal Government in June, groups of employees can bargain with a block of employers for an enterprise agreement.
The IEU, along with the United Workers Union (UWU) and Australian Education Union (AEU), has already lodged a separate supported bargaining application with the Fair Work Commission involving 65 employers in the ECEC sector.
Big Fat Smile, which runs centres around Sydney and Wollongong, is included in this application.
The IEU would like to lodge an application of behalf of St Nicholas Early Education teachers.
The union is also exploring opportunities in other parts of NSW where there are groups of teachers that would benefit from being part of a multi-enterprise agreement.