Last year, IEU members in Catholic independent schools were presented with a proposal that was described by employers as their final offer for improved salaries and conditions. This offer was not good enough and union members rejected it.
The IEU and Catholic Employment Relations subsequently found a way to negotiate a better agreement that properly valued the work of teachers and support staff in Catholic independent schools.
I think of this episode as I see the propaganda being issued by the Association of Independent Schools (AIS).
The AIS is saying the union is standing in the way of pay rises that should be awarded in February. One AIS representative advised staff, “The IEU is keen to be able to have staff take Industrial action, as part of their negotiations.” This is nonsense. Such simplistic and specious statements demonstrate a limited understanding of industrial relations and do nothing to further negotiations.
Teacher salaries in government schools have moved further ahead, with a 3% increase in October 2024. If independent school employers choose not to pay an increase in February, it will be on them and IEU members know this.
There is nothing stopping any independent school entering into a single-interest agreement with the IEU that provides satisfactory pay increases, clarity around workloads and improved conditions that match industry standards.
As Newsmonth went to press, the AIS pay offer to teachers in NSW independent schools is a disappointing step backward. The AIS has been spruiking the line that teachers’ salaries would be 6% higher than those in government schools. But it doesn’t take into account the 3% pay rise just awarded to teachers in government schools nor the impact of the translocation table in merging three different agreements into a single agreement.
The reality is that many teachers, particularly those at higher levels, will receive only minimal improvements. It will take years for some teachers to catch up to the salaries being paid in NSW government schools.
This offer fails to address critical issues affecting teachers, including fair pay progression, transparency around teaching expectations, and adequate support for those in promotion positions.
The proposed reduction in personal and carer’s leave, which would eliminate the upfront 15 days for new hires, would have been a further blow to teachers’ rights. I am pleased to see the employers have now removed this element of their claim from the?table.
Teachers deserve better. Your union is here to advocate for fair pay and working conditions. By encouraging your colleagues to join the union, you strengthen your collective voice that can push for better offers and protect your rights in the workplace.
Teachers in AIS independent schools should not accept substandard treatment. By standing together in union, we can fight for the conditions we deserve. If you know of colleagues who are not already members, now’s the time to remind them to join: strength in numbers ensures a more powerful voice to get a fair deal for all.
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