Queensland Catholic School Staff Reject Proposed Pay Deal

Brisbane — Thousands of Catholic school employees in Queensland have rejected a proposed enterprise agreement, piling pressure on school employers to return to negotiations over wages, workloads and employment conditions.

Voting results declared on Friday, October 30, showed that 68% of employees in Diocesan schools and 63.5% of those working in Religious Institute schools voted against the proposed agreement.

The outcome, a significant setback for employers who proceeded with the ballot despite failing to reach an in-principle agreement with the Independent Education Union, Queensland and Northern Territory (IEU-QNT).

The union said employees had rejected the offer because it failed to address several longstanding concerns, including competitive wages, excessive workloads and improved employment conditions.

IEU-QNT Branch Secretary, Terry Burke, blamed employers for the failed ballot, accusing them of wasting months pursuing an agreement that did not adequately reflect employees' demands.

“Employers balloted an inadequate agreement that did not address the concerns of staff, wages comparable to those paid interstate, action on workload, fair reproductive health leave and other contemporary employment conditions,” Burke said.

He said employers had spent four months pursuing the ballot instead of using the period to negotiate outstanding claims.

“Employees are understandably angry about the employers' failed approach to the negotiations, their delays and their unwillingness to listen,” he said.

With the proposed agreement rejected, the union is pushing for employers to introduce an interim 4% wage increase in 2026 as an immediate step towards resolving the dispute.

Burke said the increase was consistent with the positions advanced by both sides during negotiations and should be implemented before Christmas.

“A 4% wage increase in 2026 is consistent with both the employer and employee claims.

“This is the increase employers offered. It's the amount they budgeted for, and they should pay it before Christmas to start rebuilding their relationship with employees,” he said.

The union said it remained willing to reach a settlement but insisted that employers must demonstrate a genuine commitment to addressing workers' concerns.

“The IEU remains prepared to resolve these negotiations fairly, as soon as possible. Employers need to come back to the bargaining table and show they are ready to do the same,” Burke said.

The IEU-QNT represents approximately 17,000 teachers, school support staff, principals and other employees in the non-government education sector across Queensland and the Northern Territory.