“Eight weeks in eight days” – majority support builds for a Single Interest Authorisation in Victorian Catholic education
There has been an outstanding response to the IEU’s campaign for single interest bargaining for Victorian Catholic education, with majorities at half the employers now signed on to support a Single Interest Authorisation (SIA) application.
“We set out for an eight-week campaign, and we got over halfway there in eight school days,” says IEU General Secretary David Brear. “It’s now more important than ever for every staff member who hasn’t signed to do so – we need majority support at each employer for whom we apply, and the more statements are signed at each school, the stronger our position will be.”
David says the union is redoubling efforts to secure an SIA, as employers’ actions reveal their hostility to staff – both union and non-union – having the fair bargaining rights already available to education workers in other states.
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On Monday last week, employers made a purported “first and final offer” to staff which entrenches pay disparity, evades bargaining, and ignores a swathe of crucial workplace issues, including ES classifications, safety and workload alleviation.
On Wednesday, a video message was sent to all staff in which James Merlino, former politician and now chair of the Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA), urged staff to take a short-term bribe at the expense of real pay rises and improved conditions.
Despite the practised smile and smooth delivery, the message was chilling: take $1500 now and forget about bargaining.
“The employers are not just trying to avoid fair bargaining processes with the union, they are trying to avoid bargaining full stop,” David said. “This ruthless take it or leave approach makes it even more urgent that staff empower themselves with an SIA, which guarantees access to the industrial umpire (the Fair Work Commission) if negotiations stall.
“Without an SIA, employees are at the mercy of their employers – and this week’s actions show employers cannot be trusted on staff pay and conditions.
“The so-called “offer” of the employers would bind them into wages far below NSW colleagues – for four years. It also ignores safety and workload, both issues of huge concern to everyone working in the sector, and every other measure developed by the union through months of democratic consultation.”
David praised the “enormous efforts” of IEU Reps, members and staff in reaching thousands of colleagues with their message, despite employers’ attempts to silence Reps and hinder Organisers at schools. The union formally put employers on notice about breaches of delegate’s rights laws with this letter, which could lead to Federal Court action if not heeded.
Staff have signed in droves, responding to old-fashioned grassroots campaigning – in-person school visits, a massive calling blitz and online briefings.
The IEU is urging staff to say NO to a staff survey commencing 17 October.
“Tell employers you want an SIA, and you don’t want their inferior so-called ‘offer’, David said. “They say you can Yes to both, but that’s ridiculous – they are diametrically opposed. Just say No!
“Let them know that you want a say in your pay and conditions, not just top-down, imposed dictates from penny pinching corporate employers.
“None of the people making these decisions about your workplaces have ever worked in your schools. They don’t care about your working conditions or know anything about them. Their job is to save a rich organisation more money.
“You deserve better – and by signing the statement of support, you give yourself and your colleagues the chance to achieve that.
“Employers know the SIA campaign is working, and that staff want the basic rights they need to achieve badly needed improvements to pay and conditions. They know an SIA empowers their staff, and they don’t want that.”
