IEU members are campaigning for a new Agreement that protects and improves pay and conditions in Victorian Catholic education.
Together, we can win the significant salary increases that members deserve. We can continue to tackle workload issues, and we can improve our conditions and entitlements, making our schools better places to work and better places to learn.
Following detailed member consultation around the key issues facing staff in Victorian Catholic education, the IEU has developed draft claims and circulated them in late July for consideration by Sub-branches.
The Draft Log of Claims has been split in two - a 99-point Log covering salaries and conditions for members in workplace-based Sub-branches, and an additional 12-point Log covering conditions for Primary Principals, who will consider this separately through their own Sub-branch.
IEU Reps will be holding Sub-branch meetings in all workplaces, at which members will either endorse the draft or propose amendments, which will then be discussed and voted on at a special Council meeting on 6 September.
Once finalised, the IEU will be ready to commence good-faith bargaining for a new Agreement as soon as a Single Interest Authorisation is in place. If employers agree to negotiate as a single interest, bargaining could commence in September - if they do not, we will be forced to wait until we can make our own Single Interest Authorisation in January 2026. Read more about the importance of Single Interest bargaining here.
Draft Log of Claims out for member review
Campaign timeline
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IEU sub-branches will prepare for the campaign, discuss our bargaining priorities, build momentum and invite non-members to get on board.
Detailed surveying of members and focused discussion groups will guide the development of the draft IEU Log of Claims.
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The IEU negotiating team will develop a draft Log of Claims, based on member input, improvements won by education unions around the country, and key issues that have arisen during the implementation of the current Agreement.
IEU Organisers will work with Reps and members in workplaces to build our collective strength.
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IEU sub-branches will review our draft Log of Claims, and will have the opportunity to propose and debate amendments in advance of final endorsement.
If employers agree to negotiate as a Single Interest, The IEU will table the endorsed Log of Claims to and seek to commence negotiations.
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If employers are prepared to negotiate as a Single Interest, IEU negotiators will be hard at work at the bargaining table, backed up by the campaigning actions and collective strength of members across Victoria.
If employers continue to refuse to grant basic bargaining rights to their staff , our focus will need to be on preparing to prove to the Fair Work Commission that a majority of staff wish to negotiate under a Single Interest Authorisation.
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Salaries, conditions and protections remain in place until a new Agreement is finalised.
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If resolution has not been reached, we will ramp up our campaign for a fair outcome which improves and protects salaries and conditions in Victorian Catholic education.
IEU member wins
IEU members have a proud history of standing together and winning significant improvements to the pay and conditions of all staff working in Victorian Catholic schools. Here are just some of the highlights from three decades of campaigning:
1997: Pay parity with government schools
2004: Paid parental leave (improved in every subsequent Agreement!)
2008: Higher accrual of Long Service Leave and access after 7 years
2013: Huge improvements to ES & SSO classifications and salaries
2018: Teacher salaries hit $100,000
2022: New limits on teacher workload, historic reductions to Scheduled Class Time and the abolition of extras
Stronger together
The more members there are in the IEU, the greater our collective power to win an Agreement that reflects the hard work and commitment of teachers, support staff and school leaders.
So don't watch from the sidelines, get involved! Join your colleagues in the IEU today to have a voice in negotiations, to be protected at work and to grow our collective bargaining strength.
