Social justice is an important part of the IEU’s work, grounded in a strong commitment to fairness, equity and advocacy beyond the workplace. IEU members deeply value the union’s commitment in this area.

The IEU has a long and proud history of supporting social justice campaigns.

Throughout the 1980s, the Independent Teachers Association (ITA), as the IEU was then known, through its affiliation with the NSW Labor Council (now Unions NSW) supported the African National Congress in its struggle against South Africa’s apartheid regime. See our history timeline

In 1983, the ITA Executive endorsed the ‘Australians for Nuclear Disarmament’ rally. ITA members marched behind a “Teachers for Peace” banner alongside their counterparts from the Teachers Federation.

For many years, the IEU has been represented on the Palm Sunday Rally Planning Committee along with other unions, church representatives and other allies. Each year, the IEU proudly attends the Palm Sunday Rally and March for Peace in Sydney.

Prominent social justice involvements in recent times have also included planning and participation in May Day rallies and events in Newcastle, Port Kembla and Sydney; the promotion of justice and an end to discrimination against those in the LGBTQI+ community; commemoration at International Worker’s Memorial Day ceremonies; and engagement in the Environment and First Nations members’ rights, particularly in respect of our support for the Gomeroi people in protecting the Pilliga, as well as support for the YES referendum campaign. In July 2025, the IEU Federal Executive unanimously passed a resolution marking the 80th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 2025.

Much of the IEU’s social justice work is supported and guided by the efforts of the IEU’s Environment, Women and Equity and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committees.