IEU Day of Action becomes a Week of Action
The IEU’s Day of Action in Victorian Catholic schools is spilling over beyond Friday 29 May, with schools unable to gather on the day rallying early to demand fair bargaining and improved working conditions.
On Thursday 28 May, members from as far apart as Mildura and Geelong gathered to call for a timely, fair agreement that matches not only the in-principle state sector wage outcomes but also proposed improvements to conditions.
The Geelong Times reported on the well-attended gathering outside Sacred Heart College in Geelong on Thursday morning, reporting that members are seeking “improved conditions, a pay rise and the reinstatement of the right to take protected industrial action”.
Sacred Heart College Rep Deb Bohan tells the Geelong Times, “We’re getting a lot more expectations put on us, but we are not getting recognition for the extra work we’re doing.
“After we watched the state school teachers [strike] all of the kids were like ‘How come you’re not doing it?’ and we had to say we’re not allowed to. We have to do it before work so that we can raise awareness without getting in trouble ourselves.”
Mobile billboard raises awareness, hackles
Events have been taking place all term as part of the union’s Term of Action, and the union’s highly visible mobile billboard has been touring the state this week, starting in sunny Ballarat on Monday, building awareness of the campaign and harnessing growing public support for Catholic school staff.
The Day of Action follows international recognition of the right to strike by the International Court of Justice and a Victorian ALP State Conference motion calling on Catholic education employers to consent to fair bargaining arrangements.
Day of Action Friday 29 May
Teachers and support staff in Victorian Catholic schools will rally at school gates and workplaces across the state on Friday as part of an escalating campaign for fair bargaining rights, better pay and improved working conditions.
Members are taking action to protest the stance of Catholic education employers, who are refusing fair bargaining, have rejected around 100 of the union’s 113 claims and continue to seek to wind back key conditions.
Staff wearing union colours will gather before and after school and speak publicly about growing workload pressures and the need for a fair Agreement.
Unlike staff in the government sector, Victorian Catholic school staff are currently unable to take protected industrial action because Catholic education employers have refused to agree to fair multi-employer bargaining arrangements — a refusal the IEU is challenging in the Fair Work Commission, with hearings due to begin in June.
IEU Victoria Tasmania General Secretary David Brear says members are increasingly frustrated by delays, secrecy and the refusal of employers to negotiate key improvements.
“Catholic school staff are standing together because they are tired of being denied the same fair bargaining rights available in most Australian workplaces,” David says.
“Members are deeply concerned about attempts to wind back conditions while workloads continue to intensify, and schools face ongoing workforce shortages.”
The union says unresolved issues include salaries, workload protections, time in lieu, camp allowances, paid parental leave, education support classifications and basic union rights.
The Day of Action follows international recognition of the right to strike by the International Court of Justice and a Victorian ALP State Conference motion calling on Catholic education employers to consent to fair bargaining arrangements.