IEU members bite into SIA campaign in Geelong

IEU members at St Joseph’s Newtown have demonstrated their hunger for a fair bargaining process in the Victorian Catholic sector at a well-attended function this morning.

More than 50 sub-branch members gathered for morning tea at the major secondary boy’s school, convened by Rep Lauren Hall and Assistant Rep Charlie Purdy, to discuss the union’s push for a Single Interest Authorisation (SIA) – so “we can bargain for improved conditions without one hand tied behind our backs”.

Lauren said 35 members had joined her sub-branch since discussions around the union’s log of claims began, making it the second biggest IEU sub-branch in the state, and nipping at the heels of the largest at St Monica’s Epping!

“We’ve seen our members really become invested and spreading the word among their colleagues about the importance of this next Agreement in keeping and retaining teachers … and attracting young people to our profession.

“We’ve been able to grow our membership because of conversations from our members in staff rooms, in the yard, amongst each other.”

IEU cookies were a popular item at the mid-morning event, one of the first amongst many planned across the state to highlight the campaign for an SIA.

It’s little surprise, says Lauren, given the sub-branch’s ‘cheeky’ staff room biscuit box, which has been a “huge hit” because “we all know that teachers love a good double coated Tim Tam!”

“We created our own biscuit box with biscuits provided for union members by union members just as a bit of a metaphor to remind people that being part of a union means that you give in order to get down the track … We see that as a really important message.”

Lauren Hall gets a taste of fair bargaining.

Lauren is bullish about what the IEU can achieve in the campaign for the next Agreement.

“If we can grow our membership and we can grow our density across all our schools in Catholic education in Victoria we have a really good chance of getting a really fantastic deal that sees Victoria’s teachers and staff in Catholic education respected, well paid, with great working conditions.

“It’s about us, it’s about our profession, it’s also about our students and making Catholic education the best possible place to be in terms of your career.”

The happy Organiser blessed with visiting St Joseph’s says it is “an incredible example of a school where Reps work to ensure they are visible, proactive, and dedicated to strengthening union power at the grassroots”.

She said members had come together today “to celebrate their sub-branch’s density growth, to demonstrate solidarity, and to back their Reps as they engage the wider staff around the SIA and collective action”.

“They are all really proud to see their union sub-branch growing and I am incredibly proud to be able to work with them.”

SIA statement of support campaign

The IEU is seeking an SIA so its members in the Catholic schools sector can access good faith bargaining orders and the right to take industrial action during bargaining. Currently, workers in the Victorian Catholic schools sector are the only ones in the country disallowed these crucial industrial basics.

Their employers have denied them these rights by refusing to apply for a SIA. The IEU will soon urge members to sign a statement of support so we can apply successfully for a SIA ourselves.

For that application to succeed, a majority of staff, members and non-members alike, must be proven to support it. That means getting the signatures of a majority of staff - a huge task, but one the union is embracing, with Organiser visits, online meetings, and workplace get-togethers like this morning’s tasty event.

These occasions will spread the word, school by school, staff room by staff room, conversation by conversation, that workers need leverage in bargaining, or they won’t get the outcome on wages and conditions they so desperately need.

With Reps like Lauren and sub-branches like St Joseph’s showing the way, there’s little we cannot achieve together.