40 years on – here is a look at the IEU’s timeline
As we celebrate our 40th year, it is important to look back over the timeline of events that shaped your union into what is the IEU(SA) today.
From ATIS to ANGEE to IEU(SA)
Up until 1984 ATIS (the group which has become the IEU) was part of The South Australian Institute of Teachers (SAIT), which would later become the Australian Education Union (AEU). This was an unusual arrangement even for that time. Tensions between ATIS and SAIT had been developing for some years. Numerous times ATIS members had requested an Award (minimum conditions and salary) for non-government school teachers and each time this was denied or at least not acted upon. Then in the early 80’s the issue of school funding meant that for the majority of ATIS members, staying as one body was no longer tenable. Below is a timeline of those key events plus others throughout our 40 year history.
More information on our history can be found in our video ‘Footpath to Independence’ which was commissioned to celebrate our 30th Anniversary. You can watch the video below:
| Year | Month / date | Details |
| 1972 | Teachers in Independent Schools form an association within the South Australian Institute of Teachers (SAIT). | |
| 1982 | (SAIT) adopt a report entitled “Systems and Funding”. This report contains a policy of opposition to funding for the Independent School sector. | |
| 1983 | SAIT affiliate with the Australian Teachers Federation (ATF) who openly opposes government funding to any Independent School. | |
| 1984 | February | Association of Teachers in Independent Schools (ATIS) formally request of SAIT for an Award for non-government teachers. This was denied. |
| 1984 | May 7 | ATIS meet in SAIT building (now the AEU building on Greenhill Rd) – as a result of SAIT’s position on funding for non-government schools ATIS pass a motion to disaffiliate with SAIT. After passing of the motion ATIS members were asked to leave and convened a meeting on the footpath on Porter St Parkside. |
| 1984 | June | First ATIS publication of Independent Teacher is published. It outlined the reason for disaffiliation and included a cartoon by Atchison (who would go on to produce many more for ATIS over the years). |
| 1984 | June 18 | First ATIS general meeting held in Satisfac building. |
| 1984 | July 9 | Second ATIS general meeting to adopt new constitution held at Norwood town hall. The first ATIS Executive is formed consisting of: Bernie Donnelly, Martin Nichols, Louise Yates (now Firrell), Murray Lamshed, Sue Middleton, Val Reinke, Elizabeth Smith, Andrew Fergusson, Frank McEvoy and Brian Richards. |
| 1984 | July 24 | First application for teachers Award in non-government schools lodged (by 32 individual ATIS members as ATIS wasn’t yet registered). |
| 1984 | September 17 | Third General meeting of ATIS – Passes unanimous motions to support the 32 signatories and to endorse ATIS Executive to negotiate an interim award. The first Permanent Executive elected: President – Benie Donnelly, Secretary – Martin Nichols, Vice President – Louise Yates, Vice President – Gawain Letherby. |
| 1984 | October 19 | Judge Allen, State Industrial Commission hands down judgement to strike down SAIT objection to an ATIS covered Award. |
| 1984 | November | Martin Nichols resigns as Secretary, Sue Middleton elected as new ATIS Secretary. |
| 1985 | January 25 | Judge Allen Approves Award for teachers in non-government schools. This gives wage parity for most non-government teachers to those in Government schools – exceptions being Lutheran and Seventh Day Adventist Schools because “it was felt that teachers in these schools had specific missionary roles and as such fell outside the employment conditions of lay teachers and were more clearly aligned with a clerical role”. |
| 1985 | January | ATIS employs its first ‘field officer’, Paul Kaethner to visit schools. |
| 1985 | February 6 | ATIS is granted formal registration – allowing ATIS to formally represent its members in proceedings in the Industrial Court and Commission. |
| 1985 | March | ATIS moves into its first premises – 238 Magill Rd Beulah Park. They employ their first clerical officer, Jan Bailey. |
| 1985 | June 6 | ATIS holds its first AGM as a formally registered body. |
| 1985 | June | ATIS signs its 1000th member – they won a weekend at Aldinga Holiday Park “to relax in comfort in the distinctive self-contained units located near the sea and beautiful Aldinga Scrub”. |
| 1985 | October | ACTU Congress pledged its full support for 6 principles for teachers and other workers in non-government schools. |
| 1985 | October 11 | Orders handed down for first Award for school assistants in non-government schools. To begin from February 1986. |
| 1986 | May | ATIS moves two doors down to 234 Magill Rd. |
| 1986 | May 21 | ATIS premises at 234 Magill Rd and old premises at 238 Magill Rd are broken into. It appears nothing was stolen, but the intruders forced open a number of filing cabinets which included election material. As reported at the time: “CIB and Technical branch are of the opinion that they were ‘looking for something.’” |
| 1986 | August | ATIS affiliates with the Independent Teachers Federation of Australia (ITFA) – this will become in future years the IEUA. |
| 1987 | January | ATIS appoints new Field Officer, Peter Garlick. |
| 1988 | February | ATIS becomes first Union in any non-government education sector to agree to a Superannuation payment. It covered all staff and was paid at the rate of 3% of employee salaries. It was paid from 1 July 1988. |
| 1988 | April | ATIS’s 3rd Secretary, Barry Morrison elected for a 3 year term. |
| 1989 | July 25 | ATIS changes name to ANGEE (Association of Non-Government Education Employees (SA) Inc). It was reported: The name change has been carefully considered and reflects historical changes in our sector including recognition for support staff, many of whom were already members. It was also reported at the time: that the word “Association” has been retained as a preferred alternative to “union” which, to some people, suggests a spirit of militancy not suited to the character of either ATIS or ANGEE. |
| 1990 | February | As ATIS grows so too does the workload. It is agreed that the Secretary should become a paid, full time role. Barry Morrison agrees to become a full-time Secretary based in the ATIS office. |
| 1990 | October | The need for more space leads to a move from Magill Rd to 47 South Terrace. |
| 1990 | November | Teachers now receive Professional Indemnity Insurance as a part of membership. |
| 1995 | April | Major report into teacher workload highlights increased requirements around assessment, reporting, accountability and professional development. |
| 1995 | September | ANGEE moves from South Terrace to its current location, 213 Currie St. The purchase of its first building was the result of many years of prudent fiscal management and allowed it to purchase with a modest loan. It provides almost triple the space of the previous properties. |
| 2001 | September | Glen Seidel elected as 4th ATIS/ANGEE Secretary succeeding Barry Morrison who had held that elected position for over 13 years. |
| 2002 | September | ANGEE continues in the State jurisdiction. Federally we are now known as IEU(SA) Branch. |
| 2003 | July | ANGEE’s publication Independent Teacher is renamed EdU. |
| 2004 | May 7 | First Industrial action for Catholic schools – which led to the first controls around workload and conditions relating to class sizes, relief lessons, span of hours, Student Contact Time, Curriculum Extension Activities and Other Professional Duties. |
| 2004 | September | ANGEE officially changes name to Independent Education Union (Inc.) we are therefore both IEU in the state and federal jurisdictions. Along with the change was a new logo and website. |
| 2006 | November | National Day of Action “Your Rights at Work” campaign against the Howard Governments “Work Choices” regime. |
| 2014 | May | IEU(SA) Celebrates its 30th year with the commissioning of a video “Footpath to Independence”. |
| 2023 | January | Glen Seidel retires after 21 years as Secretary. Tim Oosterbaan becomes the 5th ATIS / ANGEE / IEU(SA) Branch Secretary. |
| 2024 | May | IEU(SA) Celebrates its 40th Year. |
