More than 600 Hunter school teachers and support staff have called on the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese to intervene in an ongoing dispute with the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations.
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Hundreds of Independent Education Union members gathered at Wickham Park, Newcastle, on Thursday morning to protest against what they believe to be the dismantling of pay and conditions.
The orderly but determined group then marched to the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese headquarters - chanting "No Ray it’s not OK" - where a petition including 600 names was handed to diocesan Director of Schools Ray Collins.
The petition calls for Mr Collins to intervene in the dispute with the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations.
“Bargaining meetings to discuss the enterprise agreement are scheduled to take place over the coming weeks and, as employers, we are committed to acting in good faith and working through the issues in an open and fair way,” Mr Collins said.
At the rally, IEU general secretary John Quessy described the proposed enterprise agreement as disrespectful and insulting.
“How can they be moving us to modern time when they are returning us to an era of grace and favour?” he said.
IEU organiser for the Hunter Therese Fitzgibbon said the crowd also made it clear that further industrial action could not be ruled out.
“The teachers and support staff have made it clear that action will continue if an agreement cannot be made,” she said.
“If we have to come back for more then we will.”
