In 2025, the IEU recouped $4.4 million in underpayments for members
The newspaper of the Independent Education Union of Australia NSW/ACT Branch (vol 45 #7) November 2025 PP 100000871 ISSN No: 0728-4845
DAY OF ACTION
PRESCHOOL TEACHERS RALLY FOR FAIR PAY More than 1500 preschool teachers, parents, children and supporters rallied in Sydney, Lismore and Coffs Harbour on 15 October as part of the Start Strong, Pay Fair campaign, calling for long overdue pay rises for preschool teachers. Members heeded the union’s call to shut community preschools for at least half a day to attend the rallies. Dressed in bright pink, they called on the NSW government to provide funding to boost the pay and conditions of teachers and educators in community preschools who are paid up to 30 per cent less than their counterparts in schools. The IEU called the Day of Action after the NSW government rejected the union’s proposal for more funding for wage rises in the sector despite more than 12 months of bargaining in the Fair Work Commission (FWC).
The IEU’s preschool ambassadors – Melinda Gambley, Margaret Gleeson, Janene Rox, Jodie Cox, Bridget Isichei and Raelee Smith – have worked tirelessly to represent the interests of colleagues in early childhood education and care at the FWC as part of the supported bargaining process. But the NSW government sought to withdraw from the bargaining process in July and has refused to increase funding to community preschools to address the systemic and growing workforce crisis. Community preschools under threat Sydney’s Martin Place was a sea of pink as speakers lined up to highlight the workforce crisis that threatens the viability of community preschools because of inadequate pay.
Speakers also criticised the state government’s refusal to take responsibility as the main funding body for community preschools in NSW. The rally was covered extensively in the media – on radio, evening TV news bulletins and newspapers such as The Daily Telegraph. NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman issued a media release in support of the campaign for better pay and conditions. Clunes Community Preschool director Melinda Gambley was featured on 7News telling the rally in Martin Place: “We cannot keep our quality programs if we cannot keep our skilled and expert workforce. “We cannot attract new people to the preschool sector on the current wages and funding,” she said. Continued on page 8
Catholic systemic schools EA PAY RISES TO COME AFTER Carol Matthews Secretary The vote by employees on the NSW and ACT Catholic Systemic Schools Enterprise Agreement 2025 (applying in nine dioceses, not including Broken Bay) and the vote on the Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Limited – Schools Enterprise Agreement 2025 closed on Friday 31 October. As Newsmonth went to press, the union had been advised that the provisional voting result for the Catholic Systemic Schools EA was a 98% yes vote. This vote is tallied across all nine dioceses. In the Parramatta Diocese, 99% voted in favour of the EA.
Back pay The employers have committed to pass on pay increases from the first full pay period following confirmation of a “Yes” vote. The union understands two dioceses, Parramatta and CanberraGoulburn, have already paid the increases. Teachers in NSW The pay rises under the enterprise agreements (EAs) will reflect the increases paid in NSW government schools: • 3% first full pay period on or after 9 October 2024 (paid) • 3% first full pay period on or after 9 October 2025 (will be paid in the next pay period, if not already paid) • 3% first full pay period on or after 9 October 2026.
Teachers in the ACT Pay rises for teachers in the ACT will be: • Approximately 3% from the first full pay period on or after 1 August 2025 (rates to line up with the ACT government school rates but paid earlier and in the current EA – this has already been paid) • 3.5% from the first full pay period on or after 1 August 2026. The increase for teachers in the ACT in 2027 will be negotiated when the outcome for teachers in ACT government schools is known (the current EA for teachers in ACT government schools expires in March 2026). Continued on page 3