Following an extended bargaining process, the IEU has finalised the two new multi-enterprise agreements (MEAs) for teachers and general staff employed in Christian schools in NSW represented by Christian Schools Australia (CSA).
These MEAs, which have a nominal expiry date of 31 March 2027, include substantial improvements to pay, paid parental leave entitlements and other rights.
Pay rises
Over the MEAs three-year duration, teachers will receive a cumulative increase of 17.5% and general staff will receive 15%. The MEAs deliver pay increases as follows:
Employees in preschool and childcare services received an initial pay increase of up to 5% in February 2024 to ensure their rates remained competitive.
Shorter teacher classification structure
Effective from 1 July 2026, a streamlined seven-step classification structure will be introduced for teachers.
This change aligns CSA schools with other sectors, including NSW government, Catholic systemic and independent schools.
The revised structure enables teachers to reach the highest pay step sooner, acknowledging their professional expertise and commitment.
Expanded coverage for general staff
The new MEA for general staff will now cover school psychologists. While the overall classification structure remains unchanged, a new classification has been added to accommodate this category of general staff.
The newly introduced rates for school psychologists are competitive against NSW government schools.
Better new parent bonus
The new parent bonus, which supplements the federal government’s paid parental leave scheme, will be progressively increased to:
- 22 weeks from 1 July 2024
- 24 weeks from 1 July 2025
- 26 weeks from 1 July 2026.
Additionally, the MEAs provide up to two weeks of paid paternity leave for fathers, which may be taken at the time of birth or adoption placement, or within 12 months thereafter.
The IEU aims to achieve further improvements to paid paternity leave as a focus area for future bargaining.
Other improvements achieved include:
- broadening eligibility criteria to request flexible work arrangements
- strengthening casual conversion rights
- a new clause outlining union delegate rights, including access to training and workplace facilities
- introduction of a right to disconnect clause.
The achievements secured in these MEAs are a direct result of the ongoing commitment and engagement of IEU members throughout the bargaining process.
Union membership is vital in securing fairer pay, stronger rights, and improved working conditions.
