Salaries And Conditions Settlement For Catholic Principals

Following the recent settlement of the teachers’ award claim, the IEU has been able to reach agreement with the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations in regard to NSW principals’ salaries and key aspects of its conditions claim.

The new settlement for principals will include:

• Salary increases of 4.4%, 3.8% and 3.8% per annum for 2009, 2010, and 2011 (12.48% compounded) as per the increases gained for teachers.

• Subject to future Commonwealth funding, mechanisms to reward principals identified as having reached a high performance skill will be the subject of further discussion between the parties.

• Provisions as per the teachers’ settlement in regard to superannuation for employees aged 70-74 and income maintenance during Workers Compensation for higher income employees such as principals. Agreement was not reached for the same part-time attendance provisions as for teachers but the Union will have discussions with employers as appropriate to support principals seeking flexible work arrangements.

While Catholic employers have not agreed to ongoing salary maintenance for principals where enrolments fall, they have indicated a willingness, subject to the No Extra Claims provisions of the new award, to work with the IEU to review principals’ salaries and the determination of salary levels.

In regard to the other issues raised as part of the principals’ award claim, further discussions may occur at diocesan level as appropriate in relation to:

• Principals’ induction and professional development.

• Work related expenses.

• Staffing and resourcing of schools.

• Schools with boarding facilities attached.

The Union can also raise matters in regard to central schools where these have been identified as concerns in some dioceses.

Further discussions will be held to clarify the application of the NSW settlement for principals in the Canberra-Goulburn Archdiocese.

Principals should contact IEU Principals’ Organiser Pam Smith if there is anything they would like to discuss at any time.