IEU representatives met with the Association of Independent Schools (AIS) on 17 June 2024 to bargain for new multi-enterprise agreements (MEAs) for teachers and professional and operational staff in nearly 250 independent schools in NSW and the ACT.
On 27 June 2024, we received the AIS’s written proposals for the new MEAs.
General proposals
For teachers, the AIS is seeking some key reductions in existing conditions:
- 15 days of personal/carer’s leave up front on starting a new job would be cut
- teachers who have been deemed Band 3 but have not gone through the ISTAA process would not receive a proposed new Accomplished Teacher allowance and would be treated as Band 2 Proficient
- notice of termination would be increased from four term weeks to seven weeks
- workload requirements during non-term time would be specified “in the interests of reducing the intensity of work during term time”.
For professional and operational staff, changes would include:
- a whole new classification structure based on the provisions in the Modern Award
- inclusion of sports coaches in the MEA with different hours of work provisions from the existing MEA
- inclusion of professional HR staff in the MEA
- a new pay scale for IT staff
- for boarding staff, a review of sleepover allowances and an option for schools to require staff to vacate their accommodation during the summer holidays.
The AIS has not discussed these proposals with the union and we have not agreed to them.
Teachers
Pay: The AIS has still not made a pay offer, either for the start of the new MEA in February or in subsequent years.
From three models to one: The AIS is proposing a three-year term for the new Teachers MEA that would replace the existing three Teacher MEAs – the Standards, Hybrid and Steps Model MEAs.
The MEA would contain one seven-step teacher pay scale reflecting the pay scale applying in NSW government schools and NSW Catholic schools (eight steps are proposed for the ACT). Teachers would need to transition from the current pay scales.
For teachers currently on the Standards Model MEA, problems include rates of pay for Experienced Teachers on Band 3 who were deemed rather than having gone through the ISTAA process (as outlined above).
It is also not clear how teachers on Band 2 with less than three years teaching experience on Band 2 would transition to the new scale.
Workloads: The IEU is seeking schools-based standards on workload elements, such as face-to-face teaching hours, release time, number of meetings, extras, duties and expected days of attendance on weekends and term time. These would be specific to each school and not be uniform across the sector. The AIS has flatly rejected this claim, notwithstanding the flexibility the union is offering. Our claim for additional timetabled release for early career teachers and their mentors also received short shrift.
Paid parental leave: One glimmer of hope in the AIS response is agreement to the IEU’s claim for paid partner leave. The AIS has agreed to 12 weeks’ paid parental leave for the partner (usually the father) when a baby is born or adopted, after the primary carer (usually the mother) goes back to work. This is in addition to two weeks at or around the time of birth or adoption. Other elements of our paid parental leave claim are not yet agreed.
Professional and operational staff
Pay: As with the Teachers MEA, there is still no offer on pay rates. The AIS is also proposing a three-year term for the Professional and Operational Staff MEA.
The AIS has agreed to review pay rates in comparison with rates in other school sectors in response to our claim that almost all professional and operational staff MEA pay rates are lower for staff in independent schools than for school staff in other sectors.
Personal/carer’s leave: Our claims for improved personal/carer’s leave and long service leave have been rejected.
Paid parental leave: This would reflect the proposed improvements for teachers (see above).
Teacher’s aides: In response to our claim for a review of the roles of teacher’s aides in special schools and the requirements to ‘act up’ when a teacher is absent, the AIS will commence consultation with special schools. However, the AIS has rejected outright our claim for minimum ratios of teachers and aides to students and improved consultation about WHS in special schools.
Next steps
At the bargaining meeting on 8 July, the AIS still did not make a pay offer for any staff. The IEU and AIS considered the classification structure of professional and administrative positions. The IEU will distribute more detailed information to our members early next term. Please talk about these negotiations in your staffroom and encourage your colleagues to join the IEU. Your organiser is happy to visit your school to discuss the campaign.