Preschools supported bargaining update from IEU NSW/ACT

The New South Wales/ACT branch of the Independent Education Union (IEU) has provided an update on the progress of supported bargaining in the preschool space.

The most recent Supported Bargaining Application (SBA) meeting was in the Fair Work Commission on Wednesday 5 March, before the Deputy President Judith Wright.

In attendance were IEU Officers, Michael Aird and Kate Damo and the IEU Ambassadors, Margaret Gleeson, Bridget Isichei, Melinda Gambley, Jodie Cox, Raelee Smith, and Janene Rox.

Michelle Carnegie and Laura Stevens, from Community Early Learning Australia (CELA), represented the employers.

The government officials, IEU NSW/ACT said, “declined to attend this meeting, stating they have not yet formed a position and therefore had nothing to contribute.”

“They have assured the IEU that they will be attending the next meeting scheduled on 26 March and will provide more information then.”

In response, information from the Union notes that it intends to seek confirmation that “they (the Government) intend to fund the wage increases and conditions.”

During the 5 March meeting, the parties discussed a draft Agreement which the IEU gave to CELA for their consideration. CELA, the Union said, “were mostly supportive of the conditions in the draft, but they want to be certain of government funding before they commit to them.”

“We left the meeting with a plan to expedite the bargaining process which includes sending the government an outline of our expectations for the next three meetings,” the Union statement concludes.

The supported bargaining agreement will currently cover 103 preschool services across NSW, and has the following core objectives:

Overarching equity and parity with NSW government preschools and schools.

Pay: substantial wage rises to secure parity with teachers and educators in school settings.

Conditions and rights at work: substantial improvements to better support preschool teachers and educators by providing equity with school settings. Key claims include substantial improvements to non-contact time, professional development, parental leave, personal leave and delegate rights.