Union delegates are elected or appointed as union representatives in their workplaces.

Our union’s delegate structure includes these important leadership roles in the Chapter:

• Chapter Representative: the key representative and coordinator of union activities in the Chapter.
• School Officer/Services Staff Representative: a representative for the Chapter’s diverse membership of professional, non-teaching staff.
• Wellbeing Representative: the Chapter’s driving force on issues of workplace culture, health and safety and matters of equity and social justice.
• Professional Issues Representative: the Chapter’s expert on the changing landscape of education, including workload associated with new curriculum and initiatives.
• Member Engagement Representative: the Chapter’s representative who is responsible for reaching out to potential union members and encouraging them to join IEU.

Union delegates are the face of our union in workplaces.

Their work organising union activity in their workplaces is central to our strength as a union.

Union delegates have strong rights under the Fair Work Act to represent the industrial interests of all union members and those employees who are eligible to be members but are not yet members.

Those rights include the right to communicate with members and potential members in relation to their industrial interests.

Communicating with members and potential members during collective bargaining is a key example of how delegates may exercise this delegate right. This could include sending email updates to staff or requesting time during staff meetings to discuss union matters.

Delegates also have a right to undertake training in paid time to support them in their role as a delegate.

Members can find a list of their current IEU Delegates by logging into MyIEU and scrolling to the “My Chapter” section.

The pathway to becoming a union delegate may vary across workplaces, but generally it starts with a conversation with current delegates, other union members in the Chapter or your IEU Organiser.

Our union is passionate about supporting delegates; they are at the heart of our success as a union.

Our training program ensures delegates have the skills they need to undertake the role.

And our online Delegate Hub is a one-stop shop for delegates filled with resources, advice and support.

Delegates are also closely supported by their IEU Organiser who is there every step of the way to support them.