Dora Houpis
About 14 teachers at the Catholic girls school Marian College Sunshine West protested twice on Wednesday, November 9 over delays in signing their new employment agreement that would improve their pay and conditions.
Teacher and the school’s Independent Education Union Victoria and Tasmania(IEUVICTAS) representative Kellie Illichmann said the protests were aimed at raising awareness about their “no more freebies” campaign.
“To highlight how much work teachers do (compared with) what they are paid to do, “ she said.
“And we want the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools(MACS) to sign off on our new work agreement.”
Ms Illichmann said she and 13 other teachers stood outside the front of the Glengala Road school on Wednesday, between 8am to 8.30am and 3pm to 3.30pm to draw attention to their cause.
About 65 teachers of a total of 100 at the school are union members.
Ms Illichmann said their state school colleagues had already signed their new Enterprise Bargaining Agreements(EBA) and were enjoying better pay and conditions.
She said examples included teachers at her school not receiving extra pay or time off in lieu for participating in things like camps while their state government counterparts did.
Ms Illchmann said their EBA had expired 18 months ago and the protests would continue until a new one was signed.
Catholic Education Commission Victoria (CECV) executive director Jim Miles said Catholic education employers were committed to bargaining in good faith and wanted to finalise the new agreement as soon as possible.
“A pay increase consistent with the Victorian Government Schools Agreement is being delivered to all teachers and support staff this year,” he said.
“A number of other commitments, particularly regarding teacher workload reduction, consistent with the improvements made in the Victorian Government Schools Agreement, have already been made.”
Ms Illchmann said unions and employers were meeting on the day of Wednesday’s protest.
