Southern Suburbs BM; Tuesday, 7th February 2012; Gymea NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

PIP Maintenance of Accreditation - Castle Hill; Monday, 13th February 2012; 4:30-6:30 pm read more

Hunter Valley BM; Monday, 13th February 2012; New Lambton NSW; 5:00 pm. read more

Northern Suburbs BM; Monday, 13th February 2012; Cammeray NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

Central Metropolitan BM; Tuesday, 14th February 2012; Burwood NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

PIP Cyber Savvy - Dee Why; Wednesday 15 February 2012; 4:30-6:30 pm read more

South Coast BM; Wednesday, 15th February 2012; Woonona NSW; 6:45 pm. read more

Penrith Blue Mountains BM; Wednesday, 15th February 2012; Penrith NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

Metropolitan East BM; Wednesday, 15th February 2012; Randwick NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

Central Coast BM; Thursday, 16th February 2012; Gosford NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

IEU Reps Training Day - Tamworth; Friday 17 February 2012; 9:15-3:15pm read more

Mid North Coast BM; Friday, 17th February 2012; Nambucca Heads NSW; 6:00 pm. read more

South East Branch Meeting; Friday, 17th February 2012; Griffith NSW; 6:00 pm. read more

Riverina BM; Friday, 17th February 2012; Wagga Wagga NSW; 7:30 pm. read more

North West Branch Meeting; Friday, 17th February 2012; Tamworth NSW; 5:30 pm. read more

Principals BM; Saturday, 18th February 2012; IEU Office Parramatta; 10:00 am. read more

Cumberland BM; Monday, 20th February 2012; IEU Office Parramatta; 4:30 pm. read more

PIP Maintenance of Accreditation - Sydney City; Monday 20 February 2012; 4.30 - 6.30pm read more

Ku-ring-gai BM; Thursday, 21st February 2012; Hornsby NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

IEU Reps Training Day - Orange, Friday 24 Feb 2012; 9.15 to 3.15 read more

North Coast BM; Wednesday, 22nd February 2012; IEU Office Lismore; 5:00 pm. read more

PIP Maintenance of Accreditation - Revesby Heights; Wednesday 22 February 2012; 4:30-6:30pm read more

Monaro BM; Thursday, 23rd February 2012; Barton ACT; 4:15 pm. read more

Lansdowne BM; Thursday, 23rd February 2012; Fairfield NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

Central Western BM; Friday, 24th February 2012; Orange NSW; 7:30 pm. read more

PIP Maintenance of Accreditation - Forbes; Monday 27 February 2012; 4.30-6.30 read more

Faxstream: Wages In The Catholic Sector

When the IEU this week met with the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations an offer was put for schools covered by the Catholic Independent schools award. However no progress whatsoever was made on claims for teachers or support staff in Catholic systemic schools, says a faxstream today sent to members.

The full text of the faxstream follows:

Dear IEU Rep and Members

WAGES IN THE CATHOLIC SECTOR

The IEU met with the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations (CCER) on Tuesday, 4 November over the wages and conditions in Catholic systemic and Catholic Independent schools. While an offer was put for schools covered by the Catholic Independent schools award, no progress was made whatsoever on claims for teachers or support staff in Catholic systemic schools.

Catholic Systemic Teachers Award

The CCER, on behalf of Catholic diocesan employers, indicated they had nothing to say or add to their earlier offer of an interim payment of 2.5% for teachers in systemic schools. Their only comments were around the State Government’s approach to funding any pay increases and issues around the economic downturn.

This was a highly unacceptable response at a meeting scheduled in advance to specifically discuss wages and conditions for teachers in systemic schools.

Support Staff

The Union is also dissatisfied with the delays in progressing the support staff award claim. As members would be aware, the IEU lodged an application to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission over some elements of the conditions claim for support staff. These include: greater permanency for teacher aides; issues around access to Level 6 positions; an allowance for performing certain medical procedures; agreed rules around playground duties; and a broader appeals process.

At a hearing in the Commission on 23 October, the employers agreed to forward a response to these matters by late last week. We have just received the response today and are considering the implications. While there has been some employer consideration of the important matter of permanency for teacher aides, there is still some way to go in settling our claims. The Union is in the Commission again on 11 November.

Catholic Independent Schools

In contrast to the silence over Catholic systemic wages, the CCER on behalf of Catholic independent employers made an offer of 3 x 4% increases over the next three years with the first payment applying as of 1 February 2009. The employers indicated that they were not seeking any ‘trade offs’, but also would not consider any award changes proposed by the Union.

While the 4% offer is reflective of the general public sector increases of 4%, it has significant problems. As it has been proposed as a final settlement rather than an ‘interim’ offer, it would not take into account the potential of a better than 4% settlement for some or all government teachers at any stage of the three year award.

The increases each year would also be paid from 1 February whereas we would anticipate pay increase in systemic and government schools to be paid at 1 January each year.

Further, the offer prevents discussion around any award changes.

What next?

We ask reps to advise members of the halt in systemic negotiations. If you have yet to meet on the recently circulated motion, please do so and return the Chapter’s response by fax to the IEU office on 9261 8850 or 1800 467 943. Thank you to the many schools that have already responded.

If reasonable progress is not made, the Union will engage in appropriate escalation of this campaign.

Yours sincerely

GLORIA TAYLOR
Acting General Secretary