9 February 2010

                                                                                                                                                       DS:010/10

SAY NO TO THE ‘MODERN AWARD’

Dear IEU Member

The decision of the NSW Government to hand over its industrial relations powers to the Federal Government means that all Catholic employers have been moved into the federal industrial relations system from 1 January this year.

12 Months Transition Period

It is important to note that your current award continues until the end of 2010.  At this time, the award will expire.

Unless a new federal agreement has been made by your employer, a national ‘Modern Award’ will replace your current award from the end of this year.

‘Modern Awards’

There are two separate Modern Awards (one for teachers and one for all support staff).  These awards set MINIMUM STANDARDS only.

For example, the top salary payable to a teacher is  53493 per annum and sick leave is 10 days per year.

There is NO paid maternity leave or paid parental leave of any kind in either Modern Award applying to Catholic schools.

New Federal Agreements

It is thus imperative that we negotiate new federal agreements before the end of this year.

The IEU rejects, in its entirety, all of the provisions of the so-called ‘Modern Award’.

Good Faith Bargaining

The IEU seeks an orderly transition to a new federal agreement.

The February edition of Newsmonth, which should arrive at your home address this week, outlines the intensive training program the Union will undertake for school representatives on the nature of the new federal system and the challenges we need to meet.

Negotiating a New Agreement

The Union will also develop material for meetings in your school to explain the changes which have occurred and to seek your support for the Union’s negotiation position with Catholic employers.

The Union notes that a number of Catholic employers have circulated material to staff indicating that they will “work with the IEU and other nominated employee representatives with a view to developing an agreement to replace the award after it has expired”.

The IEU wishes to make it clear that we will not agree to any changes to our current award salaries and conditions which take any member backwards in terms of their entitlements.

All current award provisions must be protected in any new federal agreement.

Your support for the Union’s negotiating position will be essential.

Please keep informed of developments as we work our way through this transition.  We look forward to your active support for this salaries and conditions campaign.

Yours sincerely

DICK SHEARMAN