From humble beginnings to our powerful present, we look back over some of the many changes to the industrial and education landscape the IEU has seen over seven decades.

On 24 September 1954, a group of male teachers held a meeting at Sydney Grammar School, adopted the draft constitution of the NSW Assistant Masters’ Association (AMA) and elected an interim committee of eight men to “conduct the AMA’s affairs”.

It is difficult to know whether these teachers knew they were reforming an association that was already in existence as early as 1919 but somehow foundered and disappeared in the 1930s.

A repeat of this scenario was quite possible for the reformed AMA as it struggled to find purpose and attract members in its early years. The committee thought the AMA needed a minimum of 150 members to be viable.

By mid-November 1954, membership of the AMA stood at 51. For its first decade, membership was only recorded above the 150 mark (with 157 financial members) in April 1955 and April 1960. It fell to as low as 20 in April 1963.

Voting yes for a union

The prevailing question for the AMA Council (its governing body) at the time was whether the association was to be a professional association and/or an industrial organisation.

In 1956, the AMA Council debated whether the association should apply for registration as a trade union. Six arguments, both for and against, were recorded in the minutes. Ultimately, 90 members voted in favour and 15 against.

In February 1957, the President reported to Council that an application for the registration of the AMA as a trade union had been made to the Industrial Registrar and, on payment of five shillings, the application was accepted. Nevertheless, there was great reluctance among the members to pursue an award.

Women welcomed

Over the years, staffing changes in faith-based schools have had a profound impact on membership growth and hence what the union could achieve.

In 1956, there was an average of only one lay person teaching in a Catholic primary school to 11 religious teachers (mostly nuns). The ratio in Catholic secondary schools that same year of lay teachers to religious teachers (mostly brothers and nuns but with some teaching orders of priests) was one to seven. By 1966, these ratios had fallen to 1 to 2.5 in primary schools and 1 to 2 in secondary schools. It would continue to fall in the years to follow.

The late 1960s were pivotal to the fortunes and direction of the fledgling union. In 1966, the AMA President agreed to draw up cases for and against membership of women teachers in girls’ schools for circulation prior to the March AGM.

Teachers from Catholic systemic schools also started applying to join the AMA. This included John Nicholson, a teacher from De La Salle College, Kingsgrove. Nicholson was to become the union’s first employee, then first General Secretary, and a driving force for pursuing an award (see page 10).

At the 1966 AGM, the amendment to alter the AMA’s rules to admit women teachers from girls’ schools was carried 21 to eight, and a motion to change the union’s name to the Assistant Masters’ and Mistresses’ Association (AMMA) was carried 18 to three.

With lay teachers working in increasing numbers in Catholic schools and with women from both independent and Catholic schools being invited to join AMMA, membership growth not previously known in the union’s history would follow.

By late October 1967, it was reported that male and female membership of AMMA was equal at 197 each; then in December, 61 applications for membership were received, all from women.

In 1968, female membership of AMMA reached double that of the male membership and membership passed 500 in total. Of our 32,000 strong membership today, 77 per cent are women.

Inclusive name reflects expanded coverage

The union began receiving applications from teachers working in what were then referred to as “schools for the handicapped” or “schools of special purpose”, and our membership grew again.

In the late 1960s, the Miscellaneous Workers Union (MWU) sought to expand coverage to include early childhood teachers. AMMA supported requests by teachers in the Kindergarten Union and the newly formed Pre-School Teachers Association to resist this incorporation into the MWU. Early childhood teachers would ultimately join AMMA, then the ITA. The IEU today has more than 1000 early childhood teacher members who are making great gains in the preschool and long day care sectors (see page 2).

The union remained the AMMA until 1972 when it became the NSW Independent Teachers’ Association (ITA). In 1994, it became the more inclusively named Independent Education Union, to reflect our coverage of support staff in non-government schools, and we have more than 4500 non-teaching staff members today.

Marking, meeting the Fed, conservation concerns

In 1967, AMMA published its first journal, Inter Amma. After considerable debate, the AMMA Council determined to seek an industrial award for non-government school teachers.

At the June 1969 Council meeting, the President reported positively on an AMMA Executive meeting with the Teachers Federation. It was resolved that AMMA would support the Teachers Federation claim for School Certificate and Higher School Certificate marking. The first School Certificate exams were held in 1965, and the first Higher School Certificate exams were held two years later.

Given the IEU’s current commitment to environmental issues (see page 5), it is worth noting that a motion put to the June 1969 Council meeting expressing concern about mining leases being granted in the Colong Caves area in the southern Blue Mountains was passed by the narrowest of votes: nine to eight.

A motion put to the May 1973 Council meeting expressing “strong opposition to atmospheric nuclear testing” in the Pacific was lost.

Winning the first award

Our union’s first award was finally won in 1970. It initially had different pay rates for “mistresses” and “masters”, but equal pay rates for female and male teachers were eventually achieved via the award by 1974.

While the award had hardly any of the conditions school staff today may take for granted, it did have a preferential employment clause favouring union members: “Preference in employment shall be given to suitable applicants with equivalent qualifications who are members of the Assistant Masters’ and Mistresses’ Association of NSW.” The past does indeed seem like a foreign country.

Many gains, more to do

Since winning that first award, the union has made many significant gains and faced big legislative changes and challenges. While much has improved, much still needs to be done.

From employing our first full-time General Secretary in 1971 and our first full-time organiser in 1977, growth in membership has enabled the union to invest in campaigns, training and staff.

In 2024, the IEU employs almost 80 staff dedicated to enhancing our collective capacity to achieve positive outcomes for members. IEU staff include organisers, industrial officers, a membership department, a media and communications team, a finance team, a professional engagement team and administrative and professional staff. They can be found in five offices (Ultimo, Parramatta, Canberra, Newcastle and Lismore) that are owned outright by the IEU; that is, they are member assets.

Time has proven again and again that member-driven campaigns in our workplaces are the key to progress.

At this moment, it is worth reflecting on the hard work, dedication and sacrifices of the many great women and men who have joined in our campaigns and collectively achieved so much.

Our 70 continuous years of history show that our union can be both a progressive industrial union and a respected professional association. We thank and congratulate every single member – for making our union what it is today, and for your commitment to creating the next chapters in our history. Onwards and upwards.