Catholic school staff pay decision delayed after rejection of employer-proposed EA

Results showed that, of those employees who voted, 68 per cent of Diocesan school staff and 63.5 per cent of Religious Institute school staff rejected what Independent Education Union – Queensland and Northern Territory (IEU-QNT) called the “inadequate agreement” proposed by employers.

A union spokeswoman said the offer that was rejected proposed a 4 per cent rise in 2026 and 3.5 per cent in 2027 and 2028. Employees were seeking 4 per cent for 2026, 2027 and 2028.

Employees were also seeking “structural adjustments to the classification structure, which would include increasing the graduate teacher salary and the experience proficient teacher salary to bring salaries comparable to rates paid to teachers in New South Wales and Victoria”.

Employers moved to ballot despite failing to reach in-principle agreement with the IEU-QNT at the bargaining table.

IEU-QNT branch secretary Terry Burke said employers only have themselves to blame.

“Employers balloted an inadequate agreement that did not address the concerns of staff – wages comparable to those paid interstate, action on workload, fair reproductive health leave and other contemporary employment conditions,” Burke said.

He said employers wasted four months pursuing the ballot when they could have been negotiating to address employees’ claims.

“Employees are understandably angry about the employers' failed approach to the negotiations – their delays and their unwillingness to listen,” Burke said.

According to Burke, the IEU-QNT had called on employers to make a good faith interim wage increase of 4 per cent as a first step to resolving the negotiations.

“A 4 per cent wage increase in 2026 is consistent with both the employer and employee claims,” he said.

“This is the increase employers offered. It’s the amount they budgeted for, and they should pay it before Christmas to start rebuilding their relationship with employees.

Burke said the IEU remains prepared to resolve these negotiations fairly, as soon as possible.

“Employers need to come back to the bargaining table and show they are ready to do the same,” he said.

IEU-QNT Branch represents 17,000 teachers, school support staff, principals and other non-government sector employees across Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Catholic Education Queensland CEO Allan Blagaich told Brisbane’s Courier Mail that employers would consider the ballot results and next steps.

“We remain committed to achieving an outcome that is fair and reasonable for employees, sustainable for Catholic education, and supports schools remaining accessible to the families and communities we serve,” he said.