Why single interest bargaining matters
Securing a Single Interest Authorisation (SIA) is essential to achieving fair, timely outcomes in bargaining. It’s about restoring balance, protecting staff rights, and ensuring Catholic educators have a real voice at the table.
Catholic employers in Victoria have rejected the IEU’s call to pursue a SIA, opting instead for ‘cooperative bargaining’— a process that keeps control in the hands of employers and limits staff power.
Many staff will remember what the ‘cooperative’ approach has meant in the past: endless employer delays, the disempowerment of staff, and the denial of basic bargaining rights such as the right to take protected industrial action.
Catholic employers in every other state have agreed to negotiate as a single interest.
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Background: What you need to know
Victorian Catholic education staff are covered by a Multi-Employer Agreement.
In early 2025 the IEU urged employers to apply for a Single Interest Authorisation to grant employees basic bargaining rights, prevent unnecessary delays and demonstrate good faith as we approach the negotiation of our next Agreement. Their refusal reflects a pattern of employer delays, which has historically undermined timely and fair outcomes for staff.
New federal laws permit the IEU to apply for a SIA after the current Agreement expires on 31 December – but employers could do so now!
How do we win salary increases without our basic bargaining rights?
What bargaining rights do we need?
✅ Right to take protected industrial action
In 2024, Catholic and Government school staff in NSW achieved very significant salary increases after taking action. We need to catch up, but our employers are denying us the tools that win outcomes for workers.
✅ Right to assistance from the Fair Work Commission
When employees are denied the ability to seek Good Faith Bargaining Orders or independent arbitration, the employer is able to delay and stall negotiations, as they have historically done for months and even years.