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<p class="x_MsoNormal">The IEU announced this week that it welcomes a letter from Catholic Employment Relations dated 27 January 2022 agreeing to commence negotiations for new enterprise agreements covering over 25,000 principals, <span class="mark6d8y0oc45" data-markjs="true" data-ogac="" data-ogab="" data-ogsc="" data-ogsb="">teacher</span>s and support staff in NSW and ACT Catholic systemic schools.</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">The previous agreements expired on 31 December 2021. However, up until this week, employers had stalled on commencing bargaining for pay rises and new agreements.</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">The Independent Education Union of Australia NSW/ACT Branch first wrote to the Directors of all 11 Catholic Dioceses on 30 November 2021 setting out its claim for principals, <span class="mark6d8y0oc45" data-markjs="true" data-ogac="" data-ogab="" data-ogsc="" data-ogsb="">teacher</span>s and support staff employed in Catholic Diocesan schools in NSW and the ACT.</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">The IEU represents nearly 20,000 members in over 600 Catholic Diocesan schools throughout NSW and the ACT. The union’s claim for a new agreement mirrors the one made by the NSW <span class="mark6d8y0oc45" data-markjs="true" data-ogac="" data-ogab="" data-ogsc="" data-ogsb="">Teacher</span>s Federation for <span class="mark6d8y0oc45" data-markjs="true" data-ogac="" data-ogab="" data-ogsc="" data-ogsb="">teacher</span>s in government schools. It includes:</p>
<p class="x_MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">· a pay rise of 10% to 15% over two years for all members</p>
<p class="x_MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">· effective strategies to deal with the accelerating <span class="mark6d8y0oc45" data-markjs="true" data-ogac="" data-ogab="" data-ogsc="" data-ogsb="">teacher</span> shortage</p>
<p class="x_MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">· reduced teaching time to allow <span class="mark6d8y0oc45" data-markjs="true" data-ogac="" data-ogab="" data-ogsc="" data-ogsb="">teacher</span>s time to plan, prepare and consult with colleagues</p>
<p class="x_MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">· easing excessive workloads by removing administrative tasks that don’t support teaching and learning.</p>
<p class="x_MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">· pay parity for support staff with their counterparts in government schools.</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">“<span class="mark6d8y0oc45" data-markjs="true" data-ogac="" data-ogab="" data-ogsc="" data-ogsb="">Teacher</span>s’ salaries have slid steadily backwards since the NSW Government introduced wage caps more than a decade ago – wage caps in the government sector have a strong impact on the non-government sector,” said IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Acting Secretary Carol Matthews.</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">“The IEU believes the pay increase of 2.04% offered by Catholic Employment Relations in their letter of 27 January is not good enough. We look forward to robust discussions.</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">“Our members have gone above and beyond their duties for years, but especially in the past two, ensuring teaching and learning continued during the upheaval and anxieties of a global pandemic. Now is the time to recognise this in substantial pay rises and improved conditions.”</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">IEUA NSW/ACT Branch President Christine Wilkinson said: “It is time <span class="mark6d8y0oc45" data-markjs="true" data-ogac="" data-ogab="" data-ogsc="" data-ogsb="">teacher</span>s were paid what they’re worth. <span class="mark6d8y0oc45" data-markjs="true" data-ogac="" data-ogab="" data-ogsc="" data-ogsb="">Teacher</span>s’ workloads have steadily increased over the years while conditions continue to be eroded. This is not reflected in their wages.</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">“Young graduate <span class="mark6d8y0oc45" data-markjs="true" data-ogac="" data-ogab="" data-ogsc="" data-ogsb="">teacher</span>s are leaving the profession in droves, intensifying the shortage of <span class="mark6d8y0oc45" data-markjs="true" data-ogac="" data-ogab="" data-ogsc="" data-ogsb="">teacher</span>s. If the Government wants quality <span class="mark6d8y0oc45" data-markjs="true" data-ogac="" data-ogab="" data-ogsc="" data-ogsb="">teacher</span>s, it is time to pay them what they’re worth.”</p>

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