Enterprise bargaining: sometimes it’s hard to see the forest for the trees
7 August 2024
If you’re not employed in the Catholic sector, you might have wondered why so much attention has been given to one bargaining campaign in IEU(SA) updates and social media.
The answer lies in the complexity of the bargaining.
As Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) explained to its employees*:
“There are 17 separately governed colleges operating out of 14 governing authorities/employers, and 84 diocesan schools operating out of two employers.”
Adding to this complexity is the significant “behind the scenes” work undertaken by the IEU Team. Supporting and training IEU workplace Representatives (Reps), organising members, recruiting new members, holding Sub-Branch^ and bargaining meetings, representing members in the Fair Work Commission (FWC) and keeping members informed are all essential parts of the campaign.
These are the ‘trees’.
The trees are the visible work that underpins collective strength.
While every Sub-Branch is different, the work represented by these trees reinforces organising principles that apply just as readily in Independent schools, Lutheran schools and other education workplaces.
The ‘forest’ is something much bigger.
The forest is the collective strength created when members actively work together through their IEU Representative and Sub-Branch to improve their workplace.
Enterprise bargaining is one expression of that strength—it doesn’t create it.
What does this mean for members beyond the Catholic sector?
The Catholic campaign reinforces practical lessons that apply across every sector.
Members define the priorities
Before bargaining, members, their Rep/s and their Organiser work together through the Sub-Branch to identify what staff most want to achieve—and equally, what they are not prepared to lose. Clear priorities give the bargaining team a genuine mandate and provide members with a shared purpose. That mandate is presented to the employer as a Log of Claims.
Communication builds confidence
Regular workplace conversations, meetings and updates help members understand not only what is happening, but why. They provide opportunities to answer questions, correct misinformation and maintain confidence throughout the process.
Membership matters
Every workplace conversation is also an opportunity to invite a colleague to join the IEU. Strong membership gives greater weight to the collective voice, strengthens the Sub-Branch and demonstrates that workplace priorities are backed by the people they affect.
Members achieve more when they stay involved
Attending meetings, sharing information, supporting colleagues and participating in workplace discussions all strengthen the workplace culture needed to achieve lasting outcomes.
Reaching agreement is not always straightforward
Where agreement cannot be reached, even after FWC conciliation, Protected Industrial Action (PIA) becomes one lawful option available to members. Taking action requires IEU members to apply through the IEU for a FWC Protected Action Ballot Order (PABO), then organise their member colleagues to support and vote yes to the proposed PIAs in a ballot conducted by an independent voting service.
Recent experience demonstrates why this matters. Members at St Peter’s Girls School used PIA, together with a significant increase in Sub-Branch membership, to help achieve improved outcomes after repeated employer refusals.
As you read this edition of Class Action, members at Edmund Rice Education Australia Colleges have secured the right to take PIA, while members at other Catholic schools are participating in Protected Action Ballots.
Every sector is different
Different schools will face different issues depending on the matter at hand: some will be bargaining, some will be focused on consultation, others on workload, health and safety or supporting colleagues through workplace change.
The circumstances may differ, but the organising principles remain remarkably consistent.
Strong outcomes are built by informed members, confident IEU Reps, active Sub-Branches and growing membership.
When we focus only on the individual trees, it’s easy to miss the bigger picture. But when we see the whole forest, we see something much more important: collective strength.
Talk with your IEU Rep. Attend your next Sub-Branch meeting. Encourage a colleague to join.
Every conversation, every meeting, every new member and every active Rep helps your ‘forest’ grow.
Have a chat with members or your Rep today or contact your Organiser for more information – 8410 0122 or enquiries@ieusa.org.au
^Sub-Branch – Your workplace has an IEU(SA) Sub-Branch. The IEU is represented in your Sub-Branch by your elected IEU Sub-Branch Representative(s) (Rep(s)).
*Source: Catholic Education South Australia, Enterprise Bargaining Update to Employees, July 2026. https://ieusa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/EA24-CESA-Employers.pdf
