Towards a new Agreement in Victorian Catholic schools
Bargaining for a new Agreement is one of the most important democratic responsibilities union members undertake. It begins at the grassroots, with members providing feedback on a draft Log of Claims that outlines what we’re fighting for.
Throughout Term 3, this process has been front and centre in Victorian Catholic schools. Members, Reps, and Organisers met in schools, regional gatherings, and online forums to suggest improvements, refine key demands, and shape the agenda.
As this edition of The Point goes to press, the Victorian Catholic Council is finalising the Log of Claims that will be presented to employers. Months of consultation – including a major member survey with more than 70,000 words of comments, and targeted focus groups – culminated in 99 draft claims. These span salary and leave entitlements to classification reforms for Education Support Staff.
Key proposals included:
Salary increases of 17% in the first year, followed by 10% in each of the following two years
Reforms to ensure time in lieu works as intended
Enhanced entitlements for Education Support Staff, Deputy Principals, and Casual Relief Teachers
An increase in personal leave to 152 paid hours (20 days) annually
A strong focus on workload and wellbeing.
Victorian Catholic schools campaign: Latest news and information
Principles that drive us
The final Log of Claims will pursue a single interest multi-enterprise Agreement that ensures wages and conditions which:
Are fair, equitable, and reflect best practice
Protect and improve existing entitlements
Cover all school employees, Catholic diocesan and order-based offices, and early learning settings under current Agreements
Match or exceed those in Victorian government schools
Recognise the complexity of modern education work and the critical role staff play
Support staff to lead sustainable working lives, with time for their families and communities.
Alongside member submissions, the union also reviewed recent gains achieved by colleagues in other states and considered claims being made by the Australian Education Union in their state-level negotiations.
What happens next?
On 6 September, a special meeting of the union’s Victorian Catholic Council will review any final changes and endorse the Log of Claims.
In Term 4, we will ramp up our campaign to secure a Single Interest Authorisation (SIA). An SIA gives workers access to essential bargaining rights like good faith bargaining orders and the right to take protected industrial action. To apply for one, we must show that a majority of employees at each employer want to bargain for an SIA.
Proof of this support can include petitions, written statements, surveys or secret ballots. These can be accessed online, in emails or on clipboards at school.
To reach the 50% threshold at each employer, support from non-members is essential. Members will play a crucial role not just by signing themselves, but by talking with colleagues and encouraging them to do the same.
Without majority backing, we enter negotiations without bargaining tools that most other union members take for granted – giving employers the upper hand and leaving us at risk of accepting less than we deserve.
Employers refused to act on SIA
Despite repeated calls from the IEU this year, employers have refused to apply for an SIA. This refusal denies staff access to vital bargaining rights and delays to formal negotiations – if the union applies instead of the employers, we cannot be granted an SIA until after the Agreement expires on 31 December 2025.
An SIA establishes a fair and balanced framework for negotiating improved wages and conditions. By withholding it, employers are attempting to lock in an Agreement while staff have the least power to advocate for a fair outcome.
The IEU does not accept this.
Now we’re prepared to mobilise like never before to ensure that staff in Victorian Catholic education have the power needed to secure a fair bargaining outcome.
