Subject: Petition of Support progress and IEU support

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Dear colleagues, 

I’m writing as your IEU Rep to ask everyone at our workplace to take a minute to support our campaign for fair bargaining rights in Victorian Catholic education.

✍️ Please sign today at www.ieuvictas.org.au/sign-pos

Our campaign is building strongly

Nearly 13,000 Petitions of Support have now been counted across Victorian Catholic education, with more than 220 workplaces already recording majority support.

That is a fantastic result - but we need to keep going. Last year showed us that employers are prepared to closely scrutinise and challenge the evidence about whether employees support single-interest bargaining. This time, we want the level of support to be so strong that our majority is unmistakable.

Why does this matter?‍ ‍

Catholic education staff deserve bargaining arrangements that give us a genuine collective voice over our pay and conditions.

Recent discussions about school budgets, staffing, workloads and workplace change are also a practical reminder of why strong Agreements and strong bargaining rights matter. The conditions we rely on - including workload protections, consultation rights, secure employment provisions and a meaningful voice when change is proposed - are achieved and protected through collective bargaining.

A Single Interest Authorisation would give employees across participating Catholic education employers the ability to bargain together and access the stronger bargaining framework available under the Fair Work Act.

But I signed last year!‍ ‍

Please sign again.

Last year’s campaign established very strong support, but disputes about employer workforce data meant not every employer could be included in the current application. Running a fresh Petition gives us the clearest and quickest opportunity to demonstrate majority support again.

Why union membership matters‍ ‍

The current budget and staffing discussions are also a reminder of what union membership means in practice. IEU members have access to industrial advice and representation when changes are proposed, as well as dedicated training and support.

Right now, IEU Education Support members are being offered a members-only webinar on school budgets, workplace change and their Agreement rights – details at https://www.ieuvictas.org.au/ieu-training-events-conferences/education-support-staff-budgets‍ ‍

There will also be online sessions running for all IEU members seeking a space to discuss budget issues or workplace changes - details coming shortly.

These are examples of the practical support available to members when workplace issues arise.

The IEU is also planning further training for Consultative Committee representatives. Strong, well-trained workplace representatives help make sure members can use their Agreement rights effectively while workplace changes are still being considered.

If you’re not yet an IEU member, now is a very good time to join: www.ieuvictas.org.au/join‍ ‍

Every signature makes us stronger‍ ‍

Whether or not you are already an IEU member, if you are eligible to participate in the current Petition campaign, please add your support.

If you’ve already signed - thank you. If you haven’t, please take a minute to do it today. And once you’ve signed, please ask one or two colleagues whether they’ve signed too. Most people participate because somebody they know takes the time to ask them.

Every additional Petition strengthens our case for the fair bargaining rights Catholic education staff deserve.

✍️ Please sign today at www.ieuvictas.org.au/sign-pos

Thanks for your support. 

In unity, 

[Rep Name]