Media release - 27 April 2015
Members of the Independent Education Union (IEU) will don red and wear their union badges with pride on Tuesday 28 April to celebrate significant developments in a hard fought dispute with Catholic employers.
After more than 12 months of tough negotiations the Union achieved a major breakthrough on Friday, including:
•maintaining the right to a 30-minute lunch break
•ensuring professional development, required by the employer or legislation, is undertaken in work time
•avoiding the need for a medical certificate after single days of sick leave
•supporting teachers during the accreditation process
•safeguarding support staff wages and conditions
•maintaining existing working conditions, like class sizes
•providing fair procedures for staff subject to complaints
•pay increases consistent with the government sector.
“This result was achieved by the members’ determination to stick up for quality education,” IEU General Secretary John Quessy said.
“It’s a testimony to members’ solidarity in the face of a very difficult campaign,” Mr Quessy said.
“We have come a long way in the last 380 days, during a campaign built around recognising the work teachers and support staff do, respecting their professionalism and rewarding them for it.
“This result shows the unwavering resolve of the IEU membership.”
The Union is now working on the details of an enterprise agreement that will be presented to members for final approval as soon as possible.