Building the pressure for a strong Victorian Catholic Agreement

IEU members in Victorian Catholic education want a new Agreement as soon as possible – but won’t settle for an inferior one!

The government schools outcome has strengthened the benchmark for Catholic education employees, both on pay and conditions. We will not accept less money than government schools and we will not trade away conditions members have already won.

‍Holding the line

Members are understandably keen to see a new Agreement and the associated pay increases delivered.

But employer offers to date have proposed changes that would have weakened important conditions and do not guarantee the full monetary outcomes now available in government schools.

That’s why we need to hold the line – we cannot be locked into accepting an inferior package on money and conditions.

The conditions at stake are practical protections that affect members' working lives, including professional time for preparation and assessment, overtime and time-in-lieu protections, and the right to be off site when not required for scheduled duties. Workload, flexible work, classifications, leave and other existing entitlements also not added bonuses, they are necessities.

These are conditions members have already fought for and won. They should not be traded away to secure a faster settlement.

The SIA is a tool to win the salaries and conditions Victorian Catholic education needs

The Single Interest Authorisation (SIA) is not the destination. What we’re campaigning for is a strong new Agreement with the salary increases and improvments to conditions that members deserve.

The SIA is one of the tools the IEU is using to increase pressure on employers and strengthen members' capacity to win a fair Agreement. Stronger bargaining rights can give members greater collective power to secure an outcome that reflects the improved benchmark.

Getting a great Agreement is our priority. The SIA is one of the tools we are using to help achieve it.

The timing of the Fair Work Commission's decision is outside our control. What is in our control is continuing to bargain every week and building the pressure employers can already see.

That means the SIA campaign matters now, not simply when the Commission makes its decision.

Collective action delivers results

The recent AEU campaign provides a practical demonstration of why bargaining and industrial rights matter. Members organised, took action and maintained pressure — and won major improvements.

That is the kind of collective power the IEU is fighting to secure for Catholic education employees.

Our campaign is about making sure Catholic education employees have the collective strength to secure a strong Agreement, rather than being asked to accept less simply because it is offered sooner.

What happens next?

The IEU will continue bargaining for a strong Agreement while continuing to build support for the SIA.

The message is straightforward: A strong Agreement. A stronger benchmark. No trade-off of existing conditions.

Collective pressure helps us win.

Members make it happen by staying informed, talking with colleagues and participating in the campaign. The stronger our collective support, the greater the pressure on employers to settle fairly.

The goal is not simply to reach an Agreement. It is to win an Agreement that properly recognises the work of Victorian Catholic education employees.

We want the deal quickly – but not at the cost of money or conditions members should be entitled to.