Catholic School Staff in Australia Reject Employer Pay Offer, Delaying Agreement

Catholic school staff in Queensland and the Northern Territory have overwhelmingly rejected a proposed enterprise agreement for pay raises, leading to a delay in finalizing their employment conditions. The Independent Education Union – Queensland and Northern Territory (IEU-QNT) reported that 68% of Diocesan school staff and 63.5% of Religious Institute school staff voted against the offer, which included a 4% raise in 2026 and 3.5% in 2027 and 2028. Employees are seeking 4% for each of those years, along with structural adjustments to bring graduate and experienced teacher salaries in line with those in New South Wales and Victoria. The union has urged employers to implement a 4% interim wage increase for 2026.