Mowbray 170609

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First ever industrial action at Victorian Independent School today

Staff at Mowbray College’s three campuses will take protected industrial action for the first time in the school’s 25 year history today, Wednesday 17 June, following protracted EBA negotiations and months of bad feeling at the school.

Today is also the first time industrial action has been taken at any independent school in Victoria.

The staff will take four hours industrial action this morning, with a rally to be held out front of the main Melton campus at 11am. All staff will go back to work for the afternoon, but the school has decided to cancel classes for most students for the entire day at all three campuses.

VIEU General Secretary Deb James said members at Mowbray decided to take industrial action after the leadership of the school failed to resolve staff concerns around their pay and conditions during their enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations.

“The EBA negotiations have been complicated by accusations of bullying and intimidation of staff by people associated with the Mowbray Board. VIEU is supporting several union members involved in disputes with the College, including breach of contract and discrimination. VIEU is also examining the potential underpayment of staff,” Ms James said.

“Mowbray is an excellent school, with dedicated staff and it is a very great pity the current issues are causing so much damage to morale.”

Almost ninety per cent (123 out of 138) of Victorian Independent Education Union (VIEU) members at the school, who participated in the ballot for industrial action, voted to take four hours of industrial action. A further eighty-one per cent (113 from 138) of members voted for 24 hour industrial action, which will only be taken if the school continues to fail to negotiate in good faith.

“We have continued to be available to negotiate with the school right up until this morning. We now need to consider, assuming we cannot reach an agreement after today’s action, whether or not to take 24 hours of industrial action,” Ms James said.

“Hopefully it won’t come to that. We urge the Board and management of Mowbray College to immediately address the concerns of staff so that they can get back to doing what they do best – teaching and supporting their students.”

Read the resolution passed by the Mowbray sub-branch: here

Read The Age coverage: here

Read the Herald Sun coverage: here