Tasmanian Catholic bargaining update
Bargaining for a new Tasmanian Catholic Agreement is now well underway, with the IEU and Catholic Education Tasmania (CET) holding three full-day bargaining meetings across August and September. Further meetings are scheduled fortnightly.
The IEU’s member Log of Claims contains 62 claims, with members’ key priorities of better salaries, reduced workload and safer workplaces remaining at the centre of our approach. CET has now also tabled its own 13 claims.
There has already been useful progress in a number of areas, including:
removing junior rates
maintaining a maximum school year of 195 days
moving away from the proposed forced-transfer concept
increasing the camp allowance
developing new provisions covering the right to disconnect, delegates’ rights and reproductive health.
There are, however, some significant issues that will require further discussion and member consultation.
Teacher attendance and flexibility will be an important area. CET has proposed new wording which would generally expect teachers to remain on the school site while students are attending and would also allow principals to require teachers to remain on site in other specified circumstances. The IEU has told CET that the current proposed wording is unacceptable. Members have sought greater flexibility to work away from the school site when they have no scheduled duties requiring their attendance.
CET has also proposed a trial of a new school calendar from 2028. The proposal would include additional student-free days at the beginning of the year, fewer face-to-face teaching days for Prep to Year 9 and changes to the end of the 2027 school year, while maintaining the six-week summer break and the existing maximum attendance entitlement. CET has described this as a proposal for consultation, and the IEU will be seeking detailed member feedback before reaching a position.
Other employer claims include changes to personal-leave evidence requirements, provisions allowing excess annual leave to be managed for some school support employees, a new VET teacher salary scale, changes to probationary notice arrangements and future deputy principal appointments. Some of these are relatively uncontroversial, while others raise concerns that we will continue to pursue at the bargaining table.
On salaries, CET has proposed retaining the existing salary provisions and parity mechanism, with its opening position referring to a three-year Agreement mirroring Tasmanian public-sector teacher wage outcomes. The IEU’s claims seek improved salary outcomes for all employees, including School Support Employees.
Member consultation in Term 4
It’s essential that IEU members continue to have a strong voice throughout this process. Two weeks ago, Reps from around the state gathered for a briefing and discussion of significant bargaining matters.
Early in Term 4, IEU Reps and organisers will be seeking members’ views on these proposals, particularly the calendar, teacher attendance and flexibility, VET arrangements and proposed changes affecting leave and transfers.
Member feedback will be important as bargaining moves into the next phase.
