The IEUA WA Branch has over 60 years’ experience in negotiating and advocating on behalf of members throughout the non-government education sector.
For those who are new to unions or haven’t been through the bargaining process before, a lot of the terminology used can be confusing. Here’s a short glossary of the most common words and phrases used. [Luckily, you won’t be tested on any of this!]
Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia [CECWA]: Established by the Bishops of Western Australia to ensure the Bishops’ Mandate for Catholic education in Western Australia is enacted throughout the State. CECWA and Catholic Education Western Australia Limited (CEWA), including all Catholic schools, are accountable to the Bishops of Western Australia, State and Commonwealth Governments, as well as their local communities. The CEWA Executive Team and the staff of their directorates function as the executive arm of the CECWA
Catholic Education Western Australia Ltd [CEWA Ltd or CEWA]: The executive, managerial and administrative arm of the CECWA.
Default Bargaining Representative: Bargaining representatives are entitled to bargain for enterprise agreements and depending on the type of agreement will usually be entitled to apply to the Fair Work Commission for orders and determinations relating to enterprise bargaining. Bargaining representatives are also entitled to represent a person in other types of matter before the Commission. In this case, the IEUA WA Branch is the Default Bargaining Representative for this EBA.
Fair Work Act: is an Australian law passed by the Rudd Government after coming into power in 2007 to reform the industrial relations system in Australia, commencing on 1 July 2009.
Fair Work Commission: Until 2013 known as Fair Work Australia, is the Australian industrial relations tribunal created by the Fair Work Act 2009 as part of the Rudd Government’s reforms to industrial relations in Australia:
Joining your Union: a very clever thing to do as it provides you with a safety net and the expertise to assist with improving and maintaining your working conditions.
Log of Claims: A set of claims for improved pay or conditions, lodged by a trade union on behalf of workers.
Notice of Employee Representational Rights [NERR]: In accordance with the Fair Work Act 2009 an employer that will be covered by a proposed enterprise agreement… must take all reasonable steps to give notice of the right to be represented by a bargaining representative to each employee who will be covered by the agreement and is employed at the notification time for the agreement. The NERR must be given as soon as practicable, and not later than 14 days after the notification time for the agreement. If the NERR is not provided within the prescribed time, the agreement cannot be approved.
Single Interest Employer/Single Interest Employer Authorisation: Two or more employers that are not single interest employers but that have a close connection to one another may be permitted to bargain for a single-enterprise agreement.These employers must obtain a single interest employer authorisation by application to the Fair Work Commission.