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Workplace delegates need rights & protections to undertake their vital role IEU delegates Abbey and Eugene will be appearing before today’s Senate inquiry into the Fair Work Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill to share their experiences as workplace representatives and the vital role played by delegates. Read why the Closing Loopholes Bill is needed to support delegates: IEU Speaks on the vital role of workplace delegates Delegates are at the centre of fair, cooperative and efficient workplaces; collective bargaining would fall apart without them. These unpaid, volunteer roles need and deserve basic rights and protections.  

Our next generation of teachers need more support to complete their studies With half of all student teachers failing to finish their teaching degree, we need a major rethink on how our next generation of teachers can be better supported to complete their studies and stay in the teaching profession. One obvious solution is to pay trainee teachers for their practical placements. It’s a no brainer – no one expects to work for free. Read here about the benefits of paid placements and the full range of changes needed to attract and retain new teachers: IEU Speaks on the need for paid [...]

Systemic teacher workload needs an ambitious & comprehensive response IEU members are fighting back against unsustainable workloads and incessant growth of administrative tasks and compliance paperwork. Long-term solutions will require improved conditions won by IEU member campaigns and collective bargaining. But it will also need a national intervention from governments, peak employers & education authorities. Read about our national plan here: IEU Speaks on National Priorities to Tackle Workload We need urgent action to stem the avalanche of process driven tasks and red-tape being imposed on teachers.

The IEU celebrates all our teacher members on World Teachers' Day! Friday, 27 October is a special day for a special group of people. Teaching is the profession on which all other professions rely, so this World Teachers' Day we are taking our hats off to all our amazing teachers. https://worldteachersday.edu.au/ You inspire, you support, you lead and you create the future. Happy World Teachers' Day!  

Our great collective struggles for change are never easy Union members fight for change in their workplaces, industries, professions and communities. Our campaigns often come up against powerful interests determined to block such progress. Sadly, the referendum didn’t deliver First Nations People a Voice. Read here about our union's commitment to First Nations communities: IEU Speaks on our support for First Nations People As educators, we are dedicated to making a positive difference for future generations. We have a powerful opportunity to impact the lives of thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in our schools, kindergartens and preschools.

Widespread staff shortages in schools and early childhood education now faces another major complication - many education workers can no longer afford to live in their local area. Essential workers including teachers and school support staff are being priced out of the housing market. School staffing is already under immense strain, and it's getting worse as a lack of affordable housing forces staff out of their local communities. Read more here: IEU Speaks on school staff being forced out of local housing We need a sector wide plan from employers, industry and government to build a pathway to affordable housing for [...]

The federal government needs to close the loophole that allows excessive employer responses to lawful industrial action While recent reforms by the federal government have helped bring some balance back to workplace laws, urgent change is still needed to stop employers intimidating union members. The Fair Work Act allows employers to essentially 'lockout' their staff and deny them a full day of work and pay if they participate in partial work bans. The loss of a day's pay for taking even minor work bans of a few minutes duration, as currently threatened in QLD Catholic schools, is manifestly disproportionate and excessive. [...]

Teacher Workload Impact Assessments shouldn't be limited to the NSRA  Work intensification in schools continues to drive teachers away from a job they love. We need a major employer rethink on workload - without real change teacher recruitment and retention measures will have limited success. The federal government is on the right path in their efforts to develop with unions a teacher workload impact tool to apply to all NSRA outcomes. But this important safeguard can go further and should apply to all new government and employer initiatives, not just the NSRA. Read here why work impact tests are needed across [...]

More IEU members to benefit from new bargaining laws Catholic school support staff in Western Australia are the latest IEU members set to benefit from the federal government’s new bargaining laws. The IEU-WA Branch has applied for the first single interest bargaining authorisation to cover multiple employers under new IR laws. Read here about our union’s push for better wages and job security for all education workers: IEU Speaks on WA multi-employer bargaining For too long, feminised occupations and workplaces have been denied access to fair and balanced bargaining. We need to get wages moving and recognise the vital contribution of [...]

IEU submission highlights key threats and opportunities of AI in education Our schools are places of innovation and creativity where new technologies are embraced to benefit student learning; however, IEU members have identified serious issues to be managed in the use of emerging artificial intelligence (AI) programs in education. Read full details here of how AI can be used safely and effectively for school staff and students: IEU Speaks on AI in schools The voice of the profession must be paramount in responding to the threats and opportunities provided by new AI technologies.