NewsExtra: Bargaining Update – Model A, B and C MEAs
Frustrating delays in negotiations for MEAs
The IEU is currently negotiating with Catholic Employment Relations (CER) for new multi-enterprise agreements
(MEAs) for teachers and support staff employed in Model A, Model B and Model C Catholic independent schools.
The IEU sent correspondence to CER on 22 August 2023 requesting information in line with the good faith
bargaining requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009 in relation to Model B and C bargaining, and then on
1 September 2023 requesting information in relation to Model A bargaining. The IEU has not had a response to
these requests for information.
The IEU is extremely frustrated about the delay in response from CER and will proceed to file a bargaining dispute
in the Fair Work Commission in the event a response is not forthcoming, or if CER do not agree to provide the
information sought.
In the meantime, CER have advised that it is aiming to meet with the IEU this week to discuss revised offers in
relation to bargaining for all three MEAs. The IEU is looking forward to meeting with CER to finalise the MEAs as
soon as possible and hopes the next offers will show the schools that they value their teachers and support staff.
Teacher pay
NSW Government school teachers have received an “uplift” of between 8% and 12% as of October 2023. This offer has also been matched in Catholic systemic schools.
The IEU will be seeking that traditional relativities be maintained for teachers across all MEAs. For Model A and
Model B teachers this means ensuring the pay of teachers is kept at the same percentage above NSW Government
school teachers. For Model C teachers, this means ensuring rates of pay are not less than that of NSW Government
school teachers.
Support staff pay
NSW Government school support staff recently received a 4% increase to their rates of pay, to be backdated to
1 July 2023. Catholic systemic schools will also provide their support staff with the same increase to their pay.
The IEU does not want support staff in Model A, B and C schools to be left behind NSW Government and Catholic
systemic schools. The schools need to, at the very least, match this increase.
What happens next
The IEU will meet with CER shortly and will provide a further update to members following that meeting. As stated
above, if progress is not satisfactory, we will seek the assistance of the Fair Work Commission. Please speak to
colleagues (both teachers and support staff) who have not yet joined the IEU. Strength in membership is crucial.
Join here.
