It’s the result of a tough 18-month dispute between the IEUA NSW/ACT Branch and employers, which included two stop works.

Educators from St Joseph’s High School (Aberdeen), St James’ Primary School (Muswellbrook), St Mary’s Primary School (Scone) and St Catherine’s Catholic College (Singleton) also played a role in the outcome.

They met at the Aberdeen Bowling Club last November to condemn the failure of their employers to resolve all the outstanding issues in bargaining for a new EA.

“We aren’t asking a lot,” St Joseph’s High School representative Vinnie Cooper said at the time.

“Our biggest concern is not having the right to arbitrate.

“Every other union can go to the Fair Work Commission; and our counterparts in other states do.

“NSW [catholic schools union] is the only one, which can’t.”

IEUA NSW/ACT branch secretary John Quessy said the “yes” vote showed IEU members had a clear understanding of the importance of union solidarity – and the right to a fair hearing by the industrial umpire.

The new enterprise agreement enshrines access to the Fair Work Commission for arbitration, something that was challenged by the employer, and includes work practices agreements which allow teachers and support staff to spend more time with students and less time on data collection and input, meetings and emails.

The EA also includes a 2.5 per cent pay rise for 2017, 2018 and 2019 in NSW and, in the ACT, teachers received 1.5 per cent in April, with an additional pay rise to come in line with public schools. 

“This settlement is testament to the strong resolve of our members, we expected extremely strong support from member feedback at chapter and sub branch meetings but this result exceeded our expectations,” Mr Quessy said.

“The turning point was when members rejected the proposed enterprise agreement that would have denied them the right to arbitration.

“Their united voice was finally heard by employers. 

“We now have a strong agreement upon which we can keep building.”