Principals back IEU call for fair bargaining rights in Catholic school negotiations

Victoria’s IEU Principals’ Council says staff in Catholic schools “deserve the same fair bargaining rights enjoyed by workers in every other education sector and every other state”.

In a statement issued after it met in mid-August, the Council said the so-called ‘cooperative bargaining’ model preferred by employers is unsuitable because it denies these rights.

The Principal’s’ Council says the cooperative model:

• Prevents access to the Fair Work Commission to resolve disputes

• Delays negotiations due to internal employer disagreements

• Blocks staff from taking protected industrial action

• Puts all the power in the hands of employers, not staff.

“These rights are not radical; they are basic democratic protections that uphold the dignity of work — values that align with Catholic social teachings.” They said employers had given no compelling reason for their rejection of single-interest bargaining.

“As principals, we believe in a system where staff are respected, negotiations are fair, and Agreements are reached without unnecessary delay. Previous bargaining rounds clearly demonstrate that does not happen under the ‘cooperative’ model.”

The Council urged the VCEA to apply for a Single Interest Authorisation and pledged to back the IEU in applying if it refused.

“The time for delay is over.

“Our staff — and our school communities — deserve a fair process.”

IEU Victoria Tasmania Deputy General Secretary Kylie Busk said the intransigence of the employers put principals “in a really difficult position”.  

“Principals effectively act as employer representatives in workplaces, but they understand the needs of hard-working staff much better than the VCEA.”

She said principals had borne the brunt of the delays and erosion of goodwill that resulted from past rounds of ‘business as usual’ bargaining.

“It’s time for employers to do the right thing and give up these efforts to deny IEU members basic bargaining rights so that we can crack on with productive negotiations.”