All news
Key reforms must be guaranteed to tick off migration plan
The union movement has signalled support for expanded migration if key reforms met.
Secure work should be peak goal of Jobs Summit
Secure work should be the nation’s top macro-economic goal.
Teacher workforce roundtable: Here is how we address teacher shortages
The reasons behind the current teacher and school staff shortages are many and complex – but Education Minister Jason Clare’s planned Teacher Workforce Roundtable is a good start towards the changes needed to tackle the current staffing crisis.
Steiner school secures first collective agreement
The IEU Chapter at the Samford Valley Steiner School Chapter have secured their very first collective agreement with the ongoing support of our union, winning key work conditions and wages protections.
Members win protection of traditional cultural property
IEU members at Hymba Yumba have secured powerful new provisions in their collective agreement, the first of their kind in education, which will contribute towards Closing the Industrial Gap.
Employer threatens staff over refusal to volunteer
University staff threatened over refusal to volunteer for unpaid work.
Nuclear bargaining tactic misused by employers
Employers threatening to terminate collective agreements, force workers onto minimum conditions.
Members’ voices reach Canberra
IEU members’ voices have been heard loud and clear in Canberra following a delegation of members to Parliament House last week.
Pay increases imminent for Queensland Catholic members
Catholic employing authorities have or are communicating to their teaching and non-teaching staff that they will commence paying the full wage increase due to employees under the collective agreement now that the public sector 2022 wage increase is known.
Members recognised for Catholic education contribution
Two IEU-QNT members have been acknowledged for their outstanding contributions within the Queensland Catholic education community at the 2022 Spirit of Catholic Education Awards.
We won! Paid family and domestic violence leave now law
After a decade of unions campaigning for 10 days’ paid family and domestic violence leave, the new federal government has passed legislation to enshrine the right of access for all workers.
Recognising IEU members making a difference
Nominations will soon be open for our union’s annual Member Awards to recognise those members and Chapters who make a difference to our workplaces and profession.
Looking for professional development with a difference?
Applications are now open for full-time or part-time teachers, middle leaders and principals to participate in a short-term virtual exchange paired with teachers from either Alberta (Canada) or Colorado (USA).
Sadly wage theft still on the menu
Despite numerous high-profile cases, egregious examples of wage theft continue to be unearthed.
Catholic members ready to have voice heard
Unsustainable workloads, fair pay and career pathways are the top priorities for Queensland Catholic members as preparations for collective bargaining continue.
Kindy staff face wage freeze, cuts to conditions
A Brisbane-based community kindergarten employer wants to freeze wages, cut redundancy provisions
Super boost for all workers
New financial year brings boost to all workers’ super balances including 300,000 who previously received no super at all.
Union support secures safe work for pregnant members
IEU membership has made the difference in the face of an increasing number of employers who have refused safe work for pregnant employees.
Surgery costs recovered after Workcover decision overturned
IEU support successfully overturns WorkCover decision after it refused to cover the surgery costs of member injured at work.
$110k fines to silence workers
NSW Government seeks to impose $110,000 fines for workers who go on strike directly undermining the right to strike in legislation.
Unions win historic wage increase
A quarter of Australian workers will get a pay rise following a union campaign which lead to today’s Fair Work Commission (FWC) decision to increase the minimum wage.
Workplace health and safety a fundamental right
The right to a safe and healthy work environment is now enshrined int the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO’s) framework of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
Ongoing prac payment negotiations and ITE concerns
Our union continues to advocate for members in practicum supervision negotiations as well as in the initial teacher education space, where our concerns are growing.
An agenda for the future of teaching
A new government brings new opportunities for real change in the teaching profession and ensuring the voices of teachers are at the heart of those changes, writes IEU-QNT Branch Secretary Terry Burke.
New Australian Curriculum announced
IEU members should be aware of a number of key changes in the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA)’s recently released new Australian Curriculum.
Nearly half of teachers ready to leave profession
New Monash University research has found that nearly half of teachers are ready to leave the profession due to unsustainable workloads.
Recognising unrecognised work key focus of National School Reform Agreement submission
The workforce crisis in Australian schools should be recognised as a sign that schools need greater staffing and resourcing to deliver high-quality, high-equity education for all students.
Have your say: provisional to full teacher registration
The Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) is undertaking consultation with key stakeholders about its process for transitioning from provisional to full registration policy.
Wage rises can’t wait
Big business is thriving while workers struggle amidst cost of living crisis.
Employers fuel confusion on $1,800 pay rise
Employers are creating confusion around the implementation of the new Experienced Proficient Teacher (EPT) classification.
The school where all employees will be worse off
Carinity Education is forcing a vote on inferior pay and conditions that would leave staff worse off over the next three years.
School officers make a difference
IEU Chapters have marked School Officer Day (Wednesday, 8 June) with celebrations recognising the difference school officers and services staff members make to our schools and to education.
IEU members secure interim wage relief
Our union’s strong collective voice has again made a difference, securing the payment of an interim 2% pay rise for Catholic school staff.
Reconciliation needs a brave approach to First Nations education
This year’s National Reconciliation Week (NRW) theme of Be Brave. Make Change is a timely one, given Australians have elected a new federal government committed to making change for First Nations Peoples.
National Sorry Day is a time for action
Today, 26 May, is National Sorry Day a day to remember and acknowledge the shameful mistreatment of First Nations Peoples and the Stolen Generations who were forcibly removed from their families and communities.
The agenda for working women starts here
The agenda includes four key union campaigns.
Australians have voted for change
A new government brings new opportunities to achieve the real change our members have been calling for, writes IEU-QNT Branch Secretary Terry Burke.
Mould at work is a health and safety issue
Recent wet weather and unseasonably high levels of humidity across Queensland has led to an increase in the prevalence of mould being reported at school sites.
“Historic”: paid domestic violence leave for 2.5 million workers
In an historic move more than 2.5 million additional workers will receive paid family and domestic violence leave.
Being an LGBTQI+ employee in a faith-based school
For those who identify as LGBTQI+, working in faith-based schools often includes a level of fear or distress.
Super drained to help house prices soar
Workers forced to raid retirement savings to get on property ladder.
Wages frozen: employees told to wait
Queensland Catholic employers seeking to freeze school officer wages despite the deepening cost of living crisis, with teachers likely to follow.
Condition critical: care crisis sees 1000s strike
Over 7000 aged care workers have walked off the job in protest at the current federal government’s inaction to address workload and low wages within the aged care sector.
278% wage win for members
Casual boarding staff in Northern Territory Catholic schools working on public holidays will receive 278% of their ordinary pay rate following IEU action.
Workers lose $10k
The average Australian worker would have earned $10,000 more if real wages had kept pace with productivity since 2013 – the year the Coalition federal government was elected.
Student teachers set for $12k a year
High achieving prospective teachers would get up to $12,000 per year for entering the profession should the ALP win the federal election.
Giving voice to our profession
Teacher professional boards are significant governing bodies for our profession – ones which IEU members fought to establish and then to be part of the representative body.
HELP debt reduction for teachers in very remote areas
Teachers who are working in very remote areas are encouraged to apply for a scheme which reduces Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debts.
Members to make voice heard on future of school libraries
Our union will host the first School Library Forum on Thursday, 28 July to bring together IEU colleagues working as Teacher-Librarians as well as Library Assistants to create a plan for the future of our school libraries.
IEU VET member voices needed for draft self-assurance model design
The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has developed a new draft model for self-assurance in the Vocational Education Training (VET) sector and are now seeking feedback from the sector.
NAPLAN 2023 changes explained
With NAPLAN testing being held this week across the country, it is a good time to review the upcoming changes set to be implemented following the 2020 NAPLAN Review and the longstanding advocacy of our union to all levels of government.
Protecting school communities from online abuse
Our union has advocated for a focus on protecting school communities from online abuse
Unlocking the full registration milestone
Attaining full teacher registration is a significant milestone for any teacher, recognising both establishment within the profession as well as years of dedicated training.
Members celebrate the IEU difference
IEU members joined tens of thousands of union members from across Queensland and the Northern Territory over the long weekend to celebrate Labour Day/ May Day 2022.
Labor makes landmark commitment to working women
A prospective Labor government would take real action on equal pay for working women.
Morrison to cut tradie’s pay if re-elected
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that if re-elected he will tie pay rises for thousands of construction workers to the rate of increase in the National Minimum Wage. Morrison’s new Greenfields Agreement policy would represent a pay cut for huge numbers of...
IEU action stops employer from accessing unnecessary health history
An employer’s attempt to seek an IEU member’s medical information from their treating practitioner has been stopped thanks to support from our union. IEU-QNT Industrial Services Officer Jill McKeon said the member who had been absent from work due to illness for some...
IEU WA members say no to inferior agreement
Teachers in Western Australian Catholic schools have voted down an inferior collective agreement that would have cut working conditions. In a show of solidarity against an employer determined to undermine hard-won conditions, IEU members made it clear they would not...
Australia’s insecure work shame
With more than one in four workers now in insecure work, the current federal government has failed to address job insecurity for hundreds of thousands of Australians – including many IEU members. Job insecurity didn’t happen by accident. “Australia used to have the...
32% more deaths at work since 2018
One worker every two days is killed on the job in Australia, according to a major report by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) into the Morrison federal government’s failings on work health and safety. Scott Morrison has also overseen an appalling 32 per...
Celebrate Labour Day/May Day this weekend
This Labour Day/May Day long weekend, members will gather across Queensland and the Northern Territory to celebrate the IEU difference. Festivities return to a more familiar calendar of events this year after pandemic disruptions. Members have been on the frontline...
NAIDOC Week 2022
Held between Sunday, 3 July and Sunday, 10 July, NAIDOC Week 2022’s theme of Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! acknowledges First Nations Peoples’ proud history of getting up, standing up and showing up.
National Reconciliation Week 2022
Held annually, National Reconciliation Week (NRW) occurs between 27 May and 3 June, dates which mark historically significant milestones for First Nations People and Australia’s reconciliation journey: the 1967 referendum and the Mabo decision.
A legislative agenda for working women?
With the federal election approaching many working women will be considering how their vote can make a difference in defining the nation’s legislative agenda.
NCCD workload breakthrough
IEU members have put employers across our sector on notice regarding excessive demands of staff completing the NCCD process.
Practicum payment negotiations continue
Union advocacy has secured a payment increase for practicum supervision and continued negotiations for stronger protections of working conditions.
New ITE models leading to full teaching loads
Emergence of alternative models of pre-service teacher experience, including paid internships, has potential to put high-quality education practice and delivery at risk.
Time to confirm new National Curriculum, end politicisation of content
The new national curriculum still has not been confirmed in full, despite the Federal Government aiming for implementation in 2023.
Final ITE report fails to understand profession or address key issues
The final report into Initial Teacher Education (ITE) is one characterised by a fundamental failure to understand the profession or recognise that ITE depends upon access to schools and supervising teachers, according to IEU-QNT Branch Secretary Terry Burke.
COVID-19 takes heavy toll on school leaders’ health and wellbeing
The ongoing impact of COVID-19 has worsened the risks of long-term damage to principals’ health and wellbeing, according to the latest Australia Principal Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing survey.
IEU intervention saves member’s graduation after employer discrimination
An employer’s attempt to discriminate on the basis of a medical injury was thwarted after assistance from our union’s experienced Industrial Services Team.
IEU helps pregnant member transfer to safe work
Our union’s assistance and advocacy has led to a pregnant member being reassigned to a safe job where she is performing alternative duties for the duration of her pregnancy.
Morrison’s super betrayal
The Morrison government has dismissed a plan to address the gender super gap.
Natural disaster leave provides crucial support
When floodwaters inundated vast areas of South East Queensland last month thousands of Queenslanders faced devastating impacts.
Federal government breaks record for workers with multiple jobs
The number of Australians who need more than one job to make ends meet – which had already been at a record high – has climbed even higher according to new data released this morning by the ABS.
Kindy employees left with no redundancy provisions
IEU members in the early childhood education sector need to be on alert, after multiple employers have tried to, and in some cases succeeded in, removing important working rights from collective agreements, particularly redundancy payment provisions.
Close the Gap Day 2022: Know Your Country campaign
As Close the Gap Day 2022 on 17 March approaches, our union encourages members to contemplate the persisting gap in outcomes between First Nations and non-First Nations Peoples.
Not enough: women still waiting on IWD
“Not enough”: why women are still waiting for change on International Women’s Day (IWD) 2022.
Severe weather causing major school disruptions, minimal staff attendance tomorrow
Flooding and severe weather in South East Queensland continue to pose a significant threat to community safety.
Chapters to mark IWD
International Women’s Day (IWD) held each year on 8 March is a day to promote equality for women’s social, political and working rights.
Fair Work Commission dispute leads to improved consultation on school closures and safety
Our union’s dispute with Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) over the decision to reopen schools today was subject to a conference in the Fair Work Commission (FWC) earlier this afternoon.
Dispute filed over Brisbane Catholic Education move to reopen majority of schools
Our union filed an urgent dispute late last night with the industrial umpire – the Fair Work Commission (FWC) – over Brisbane Catholic Education’s decision to reopen the majority of schools today Tuesday, 1 March 2022.
SEQ flood emergency continues, employer compassion needed for support & certainty
While South East Queensland continues to endure the current flood emergency, essential workplace arrangements can be confirmed right now to help support employees and safeguard our school communities.
Closed means closed: Non-government employers should follow state sector
The Queensland Government has made the decision to close all state schools across Metropolitan Brisbane and the South East as well as some schools in the North Coast and Darling Downs South West regions due to the flood situation. The schools are those that fall into...
State funding announcement reinforces viability of early childhood education sector
IEU members have welcomed the Queensland Government’s announcement today (Wednesday, 23 February) of significant kindergarten funding reforms and more than $1 billion in investment to the early childhood education sector over five years.
Chapter fights back over excessive hours
IEU member action has made the difference in overcoming an employer attempt to direct teachers to work beyond their hours of duty.
Super boost for vulnerable workers
The superannuation balances of thousands of vulnerable workers will receive a much-needed boost following the abolition of the $450 super threshold.
Member action makes difference on COVID-19 WHS issue
An IEU member’s initiative and action at their kindergarten has negotiated a solution to a significant COVID-19 Work Health and Safety (WHS) issue.
Federal government fails aged care and disability sectors again
The aged care and disability sectors need urgent support from the federal government through appropriate remuneration as well as better access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and RATs (Rapid Antigen Tests), so that the essential services the sectors provide can continue and be delivered safely.
QLD Catholic employer failures result in poor HALT application rates
The determination of Queensland Catholic school employers to control the process for Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT) applications without seeking the support of our union has led to a woeful take up of the roles across the state.
NT boarding school employer disputes backpay
Northern Territory Catholic school members remain locked in a dispute with their employer who has failed to pay staff their public holidays loadings for many years.
Employers shamefully refusing upfront pandemic leave
Our union is calling on school employers to provide immediate access to paid pandemic leave for staff who test positive to COVID-19 or are exposed to the virus and required to comply with public health directives.
Unions make a difference for couriers and gig economy workers in world first
The NSW Transport Workers Union won a landmark decision today that will see couriers receive enforceable pay rises between 36 and 46 per cent over three years and further protections – including for Amazon flex drivers in a world first.
Celebrating School Libraries as The Heart of Learning
School communities around the state are acknowledging the critical role of library staff and thanking them for their outstanding work as part of Queensland School Library Week (QSLW) 2022 celebrations.
HALT: The great Catholic sector embarrassment
The determination of Queensland Catholic school employers to control the process for Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT) applications without seeking the support of our union has led to a woeful take up of the roles across the state.
IEU supporting creative talents to shine in 2022
The IEU Awards for Excellence in Art Design and the Literary Competition will return in 2022 for students and staff in the non-government education sector.
Setting early career teachers up for success
As our union’s Mentoring Program enters its fourth year, we reflect on how setting early career teachers up for success makes a difference to the profession.
Religious Discrimination Bill would enable, not prevent discrimination
The federal government’s flawed Religious Discrimination Bill, which would enable rather than prevent discrimination, has been abandoned at a critical juncture ahead of the upcoming federal election.
Citipointe Christian College must adhere to Anti-Discrimination Act
Our union has called on Citipointe Christian College to meet its responsibilities under the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act and ensure no student at the College is discriminated against on the basis of gender identity or sexuality.
Queensland government’s safe return to school plan welcomed
Our union welcomes the safe return to school plan announced by Education Minister Grace Grace, which will set the parameters and act as a reference point for non-government education employers.