St Catherine’s Catholic College, Singleton TAS/VET teacher Marcus Ribbons knows what it’s like to work without union support.
He paid his way through university working as a pizza delivery driver. In 1998 he was earning $7.82 per hour, five years later he was earning $10.61.
When he got his first teaching job and encountered such ‘luxuries’ as holiday and sick pay, he had an immediate appreciation of why it’s worthwhile joining the Union.
“I realised the conditions that I was receiving as a teacher were because of the work the Union had done before. As a casual delivery driver, there was never any paid holidays in six years, even though I was working 30 hours a week,” Marcus said.
“There was a Union, but if you made a fuss you just didn’t get any more shifts. At school I started reading all the Newsmonths and taking an interest in issues.”
Marcus travelled to work with an IEU Rep in his early teaching career, and learnt a lot more about the Union on those trips.
At St Catherine’s there is an IEU Committee consisting a President, Rep, Secretary and two other committee members, to try and service the needs of the large K-12 school. Marcus is the Rep on the committee.
“I make members aware of the historic significance of the Union and what it has achieved when I talk to teachers.
“I tell them unions only work if everyone sticks together and works to support each other. It’s not about what’s in it for the individual.
“People shy away from taking on this role, but I’m passionate about it, it’s something I’ve always felt was important. Getting the information out there is crucial.”
As a VET teacher, Marcus has to deal with extra issues around maintaining his industry currency and visiting students on work placements. The IEU has fought for time-in-lieu for VET teachers who have to do work placement visits outside of normal work hours.
The IEU’s Catholic claim has provisions to improve conditions for VET teachers, including time in lieu for visiting students on work experience or for acquiring mandatory industry experience outside normal working hours and dedicated administrative support for VET teachers.
Marcus said without Union support, improvements would not happened for VET teachers.