Lauriston Girls’ School - Two critical votes in the next 7 days
Over the next week, all staff and IEU members will be asked to take two important steps in our campaign for a fair Agreement at Lauriston Girls’ School.
VOTE NO to the Employer’s offer
All Lauriston staff will be asked to vote on the employer’s proposed Agreement.
Voting opens Thursday 26 March and closes Friday 27 March.
It is essential that you vote — and that you VOTE NO.
If this Agreement is voted up, the deal will be locked in for the next three years. That means staff will be stuck with an offer that falls short on the issues that matter most.
Why should I vote no?
Lauriston Girls' School is asking staff to accept an offer that falls short on the issues that matter most: pay, workload, and conditions.
While there have been a small number of improvements, the overall deal is not good enough. Our staff deserve better.
What’s in their offer
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CURRENT POSITION
Below Government and Catholic sector expectations.WHY THIS IS NOT YET GOOD ENOUGH
Total increase of 9% over 3 years. This is well below the union claim of 18% and current inflation rates. Government and Catholic Schools have rejected an offer of 18% and continue their campaign for 35%. -
CURRENT POSITION
No meaningful progress.
WHY THIS IS NOT YET GOOD ENOUGH
No real workload fix. Key claims for planning time, limits on duties, and class protections have been rejected. -
CURRENT POSITION
Behind sector standards.WHY THIS IS NOT YET GOOD ENOUGH
Lauriston continues to fall behind sector standards on parental leave and family and domestic violence leave. We are only asking for what has operated in the Government and Catholic Sectors for the last 4 years. -
CURRENT POSITION
No improvement on existing sector standard.WHY THIS IS NOT YET GOOD ENOUGH
The existing 15 days has been the entitlement in Victorian government, Catholic, and most independent schools for many years. It is not a generous entitlement. -
CURRENT POSITION
Not addressed.WHY THIS IS NOT YET GOOD ENOUGH
No recognition of the increasing responsibilities placed on teachers across ELC, JS, and SS, for which there is a lack of sufficient recognition. -
CURRENT POSITION
Not secured in the Agreement.WHY THIS IS NOT YET GOOD ENOUGH
Howqua rostering principles have not been included in the agreement, only in policy. This means that they are not legally enforceable. -
CURRENT POSITION
Only partial change proposed and below government standards.
WHY THIS IS NOT YET GOOD ENOUGH
A small change in allowance for some kinds of leave, but not equal to the time in lieu, or payments operating in the Government and Catholic Sectors for the last 4 years. -
CURRENT POSITION
Limited protection.
WHY THIS IS NOT YET GOOD ENOUGH
No meaningful protection from unreasonable out-of-hours work. Referring to the minimum law is not enough. -
CURRENT POSITION
Uncertainty remains.
WHY THIS IS NOT YET GOOD ENOUGH
The employer has proposed changes to existing conditions without proper agreement and used ambiguous language. Staff should not sign off on cuts or uncertainty. -
A few gains have been made, including the Monday before Melbourne Cup and some flexible leave improvements. However, these gains do not come at a real cost to the employer, and do not address the key claims made.
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Pay offer does not match inflation
No serious workload relief
Substandard leave provisions
Uncertainty about conditions
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Staff will not accept a deal that makes them go backwards
Lauriston must commit to doing better on pay and workload
We are united for a fair Agreement.
Vote YES to all 15 questions on the protected action ballot
IEU members will also be asked to vote in the Protected Action Ballot.
Voting instructions will be sent by email to IEU members on Monday 23 March.
The ballot opens Tuesday 24 March at 10.00am and closes Tuesday 31 March at 5.00pm.
The ballot asks IEU members to vote YES or NO on each of the 15 proposed forms of protected industrial action.
Voting YES does not mean action will happen immediately. It simply gives members the legal option to take some or all of these actions later, if needed, as part of the campaign for a better deal.
It is vital that every IEU member votes — and that we vote YES to all 15 questions.
For the ballot to succeed:
at least 50% plus one of eligible members must vote, and
a majority of votes cast must be YES for each action.
Without a successful ballot, members cannot take protected industrial action.
