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Catholic Education Agreement: support our campaign, support our union!

Dear colleague,

As you know, a fair and equitable deal for staff in Tasmanian Catholic schools is more than two years overdue. Our campaigning has improved the employer offer, but not enough, and we need to escalate our actions.

Our next step is to seek a protected action ballot order (PABO) to give us the option of taking industrial action to get this deal done.

Only union members can vote for the PABO, and only union members can participate in protected industrial action.

If you ARE a member of the IEU, it’s critical that you check that your contact details are up to date and that you are financial and listed in the correct fee category – you can do so at  https://members.ieuvictas.org.au/ (to log in for the first time click ‘Forgot Password’ and enter your member number.)

If you are NOT an IEU member, I invite and strongly encourage you to join your colleagues in our union as we fight for improved conditions for everyone in our schools. Your union is the organisation with your welfare as its priority and with you on board we can continue to fight to win the best possible conditions for all staff. Joining means protecting yourself and doing your bit to improve our workplaces for everyone.

AGREEMENT BARGAINING

The Catholic Education Office has not just denied many union claims, it has delayed bargaining by introducing late claims of its own, including the right to forcibly transfer staff between schools and an extension of the school year.

IEU claims include:

  • parity with the state sector on parental leave (currently we have four weeks less)

  • paid preparation time for Teacher Assistants

  • more guaranteed preparation time for teachers

  • reduced face-to-face time for primary teachers.

You can read more about the campaign for a just Agreement here

Poor outcomes for staff mean poor outcomes for students.

You and your colleagues put others first as a matter of course, in your dedication to children and learning. But there comes a time when the welfare of workers can no longer be taken for granted. Our employer has wilfully ignored the workload crisis in our schools. Its reluctance to even meet to bargain was shameful. There comes a time when the only way to change such attitudes is a powerful show of unity. That comes through sticking together in a common cause. That comes through being in union.

PROTECTED ACTION BALLOT ORDER (PABO)

If you join the union, you’ll able to take real action to shift the employer by voting on the PABO.

A PABO is a secret ballot that allows IEU members to vote on whether they want the option to take protected industrial action.

We’ve made a video which explains everything you need to know about the process, which you can find here.

SURVEY

If you haven’t already, please take a few minutes to complete the Tasmanian Catholic Bargaining Feedback survey. Responses can be anonymous. It is open to all staff, regardless of union membership.

We’ve received a tremendous response from many of your colleagues. The words of members propel this campaign to the next level. You can read some of them here.

And pass it on! Please try to get as many colleagues as possible to complete the survey.

AND AGAIN - JOIN THE UNION!

In case you haven’t caught on, we want you to join the IEU! We are all stronger in greater numbers.

Join the IEU here, or come and have a chat with me about the many reasons to join.

 

It would be great to have you on board!

In unity,


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Your IEU Rep