Independent bargaining: More employees say ‘No’ to get fair outcomes
Employees in Victorian and Tasmanian independent schools are increasingly willing to take action in support of better pay and conditions, and reject unfair non-union Agreements.
IEU Deputy General Secretary says staff safety is not an ‘extra’
With physical and psychological violence continuing to be a huge challenge in schools, consistent and meaningful support for educators is essential.
IEU women need their safety to be taken seriously
In written responses to the Victorian Catholic school survey, members called for improved support for women in the workforce.
IEU President Terry Huddy on how to help your Rep during a bargaining campaign
Enterprise Bargaining campaigns can be a crucial turning point for independent school staff. These campaigns only succeed when members are engaged, informed, and united.
IEU gets a lesson from engaging young unionists
Union Summer interns participate in the work that the union does for members. But the union also listens to what the interns have to say, and this year they had an important message.
IEU Independent school bargaining report: members stand firm
A series of landmark outcomes are setting new benchmarks for pay and conditions in the independent sector.
IEU General Secretary on the Victorian Catholic Agreement: Pay, workload, wellbeing
While pay rises and workload alleviation remain major priorities for Victorian Catholic school staff – whose salaries now trail those in other states – a recent IEU survey reveals that staff wellbeing is just as urgent an issue.
IEU independent bargaining report, Term 1, 2025
The IEU is finalising deals in schools of all kinds, setting new benchmarks on pay and workload provisions.
IEU Deputy General Secretary Kylie Busk on good faith bargaining
In schools where the workload goals of Agreements are subverted, staff burn out or seek work elsewhere, and the quality of education and student support suffers.
Zelda D’Aprano: smashing the bronze ceiling
A campaign targets the deplorable fact that less than 4% Australia’s statues represent historical female figures.
Rep training is now mandated by law
The advent of new laws guaranteeing the right of union Reps to five days of initial union training and a further day each year they are in the role must be leveraged to grow the next generation of union leaders.
Deputy General Secretary: Achieving workload improvements and wage rises
In Australia, the education system is built on the back of asking overworked people to do more and asking good people to do more than they should.
Independent bargaining report: Bargaining wins, big and small
This is a “new era of independent school bargaining”, because more teachers and education support staff in independent schools are challenging outdated practices and demanding fairer working conditions.
IEU General Secretary David Brear says the upcoming Victorian Catholic campaign is about pay
The current Agreements covering Catholic schools in Victoria expire at the end of 2025 and we have already begun the process of preparing the campaign for their replacement.
Liam Byrne, the Australian union movement’s historian
‘Without our history, how do we know who we are?’ asks Dr Liam Byrne, who has been the ACTU Historian since 2019.
From a birthday party to Advancing Female Leadership in Education
Non-profit organisation Advancing Female Leadership in Education (AFLE) grew out of an impromptu chat at a two-year-old’s birthday party.
80,000 reasons to check your pay
A backpay win for an incorrectly classified member is a reminder that you should contact your union if you have any questions about your wages.
The IEU on how therapy animals are good for staff and students
Therapy animals are great for young people, including students having a hard time engaging with school. They also help calm staff.
The importance of member retention
To build union power, we must recruit new members. But just as important to modern unions is member retention.
IEU members standing strong in independent schools
IEU sub-branches are standing together to win long overdue improvements, and refusing to accept the status quo or to unquestioningly comply with their employers’ wishes during the voting process.