Catholic Memorandum of Understanding

This Memorandum of Understanding is between

The Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd
On behalf of the Employers of Victorian Catholic Schools
and
The Directors of Catholic Education in Victoria
and
The Victorian Independent Education Union

PREAMBLE
The parties to this Memorandum recognise that a Multi Employer Agreement has been entered into between the employers of staff in Victorian Catholic Schools and Catholic Education Offices and the Victorian Independent Education Union.
There are matters that the parties to this memorandum wish to preserve as entitlements for staff in Victorian Catholic schools and Catholic Education Offices which are not dealt with in the Multi Employer Agreement.
The parties to this memorandum agree to ensure that the provisions of this memorandum are implemented in Victorian Catholic schools and Catholic Education Offices
This memorandum is entered into in good faith but is not intended to give rise to legally enforceable obligations as between the parties.

PERIOD OF OPERATION
This understanding will operate from 29 October 2008 until the 31 December 2011.

THE UNDERSTANDING

1.    Maternity Leave:
All employees who wish to return to duty following a period of maternity leave should provide at least seven weeks notice of their return and should commence only from the commencement of a school term, preferably from the commencement of a school year. 

2.    Trade Union Training Leave
The provisions of Clause 26 of the former Victorian Catholic Schools and Catholic Education Offices Certified Agreement 2004-2007 which reads as follows:
“Clause 26 of CA
26.1    Paid leave for trade union training will be available in each school for the designated VIEU representative subject to it being:
•    Taken at a time mutually agreed with the principal,
•    Limited to one day per school per year; and
•    Non-cumulative”
will continue to be applied until 31 December 2011.

3.    Redundancy Guidelines
The procedures and guidelines relating to Redundancy as set out in Appendix I will be followed throughout all Catholic Schools and Catholic Education Offices.

4.    Investigation into teacher safety / wellbeing
During the life of this memorandum the parties agree to examine the issues surrounding students/ parents / guardians who may pose a risk to teacher safety and or wellbeing and how this issue can be handled in schools.

5.    Minimum rates of pay adjustments – School Service Officers and School Officers
Should the minimum salary levels for school service officers and school officers as prescribed in the Multi Employer Agreement fall below the relevant minimum salary levels determined by the Australian Fair Pay Commissioner (or from 1 January 2010, Fair Work Australia) the rates of pay for those classifications will be increased to not less than those so determined.

6.    2012 Salary increases
The parties will make no further claims in respect of matters dealt with by the Multi-Employer Agreement which will have effect prior to 31 December 2011.  Provided that, in the event a successor Agreement is not agreed by 31 December 2011, there will be a guaranteed salary increase for staff covered by the Multi Employer Agreement consistent with any salary increase in Victorian Government Schools effective from the first pay period on or after 1 January 2012.

APPENDIX I – Redundancy Guidelines