Queensland Catholic Education Commission Executive Director Mike Byrne says it is expected that 17 Catholic schools across the state will be closed tomorrow while a number of others will operate with modified programs or supervision only as a result of industrial action.
Mr Byrne said Union members at 171 of Queensland’s 292 Catholic schools had recently voted to take protected industrial action over wages and conditions claims.
He said Catholic education authorities were making every effort to minimise the impact of the action on students and families and were grateful for their understanding and cooperation.
“Affected schools are communicating closely with parents about any changes to regular programs.
“I encourage parents with any concerns about arrangements for Thursday to contact their school principal,” he said.
Mr Byrne said employee representatives have indicated that a key factor in taking action is the wage increase offer made by Catholic school employers of 2.7% per annum over the next three years.
He said employees had been seeking a 4% per annum increase.
“However, Catholic school employers maintain that an increase of 2.7% is a fair and responsible one in the current economic climate.
“This offer is also comparable to the State school sector.
“I assure you that Catholic school employers recognise and value the commitment and professionalism of all their staff and are committed to ensuring that they are fairly and responsibly remunerated,” Mr Byrne said.
Mr Byrne said while Catholic school employers recognise the right of employees to take protected industrial action, it is disappointing that such action is being taken while the parties continue to bargain in good faith.
These enterprise bargaining negotiations are continuing with the next scheduled meetings to be held next week on 11 and 12 September 2012.
A lists of schools effected in varying degrees by tomorrow’s industrial action in some Queensland Catholic Schools follows:
Schools Affected by Industrial Action – Thursday 6 September 2012
BRISBANE CATHOLIC EDUCATION SCHOOLS
All BCE schools are open. Some will offer modified programs or supervision.
Schools offering supervision only are:
Xavier Catholic College, Hervey Bay
Stella Maris Primary School, Maroochydore
Siena Catholic College, Sippy Downs
Siena Primary, Sippy Downs
St Anthony’s Primary, Kedron
Our Lady of the Angels Primary, Wavell Heights
St Benedict’s Primary, Mango Hill
St Joseph’s Primary, Bracken Ridge
Our Lady of Dolours Primary, Mitchelton
Our Lady of the Way Primary, Petrie
Carmel College, Thornlands
St John Vianney’s Primary, Manly
San Sisto College, Carina
St Thomas’ School, Camp Hill
Clairvaux MacKillop College, Upper Mt Gravatt
Our Lady’s College, Annerley
St Elizabeth’s Primary, Tarragindi
St Paul’s Primary, Woodridge
St Mark’s Primary, Inala
St Peter’s Primary, Rochedale
St Edward the Confessor Primary, Daisy Hill
Chisholm Catholic College, Cornubia
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary, Sunnybank
St Mary’s College, Ipswich
St Francis Xavier Primary, Goodna
Immaculate Heart Primary, West Ipswich/Leichhardt
St Joseph’s Primary, North Ipswich
Sacred Heart Primary, Booval
St Mary’s Primary, Ipswich
DIOCESE OF CAIRNS
PRIMARY SCHOOLS
No or minimum impact
Good Counsel Primary – Innisfail
St Gerard Majella – Woree
St Augustine’s – Mossman
Modified Program
St Joseph’s – Atherton
St Joseph’s – Parramatta Park
St Rita’s – South Johnstone
Closed
Holy Cross – Trinity Park
St Therese’s – Bentley Park
St Francis Xavier’s – Manunda
St Thomas’s – Mareeba
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart – TI/Hammond Island
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
No or minimum impact
St Augustine’s College – Cairns
Modified Program
St Andrew’s Catholic College – Redlynch
Good Counsel College – Innisfail
Closed
St Stephen’s Catholic College – Mareeba
St Monica’s College – Cairns
St Mary’s Catholic College – Woree
DIOCESE OF ROCKHAMPTON
All schools are open.
Some will offer modified programs or supervision
DIOCESE OF TOOWOOMBA
Modified Program
St Joseph’s College – Toowoomba
St Joseph’s School – Stanthorpe
Closed
Mater Dei Primary School – Toowoomba
St Mary’s College – Toowoomba
DIOCESE OF TOWNSVILLE
No or minimum impact
Marian Catholic School – Currajong
St Joseph’s Catholic School – Mundingburra
St Peter’s School – Halifax
Modified Program
Good Shepherd Catholic Community School – Rasmussen
Columba Catholic College – Charters Towers
St Coleman’s School – Home Hill
Canossa School – Trebonne
Closed
Ryan Catholic College – Kirwan
St Margaret Mary’s College – Hyde Park
Gilroy Santa Maria College – Ingham
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School – Ingham
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTE SCHOOLS
No or minimum impact
Iona College – Wynnum
Nudgee Junior – Indooroopilly
Padua College – Kedron
St Ursula’s – Toowoomba
Modified program or supervision
All Hallows’ School – Brisbane
Brigidine College – Indooroopilly
Downlands Sacred Heart College – Toowoomba
Ignatius Park College – Townsville
Loreto College – Coorparoo
Lourdes Hill College – Hawthorne
Marist College – Ashgrove
Mt St Michael’s College – Ashgrove
Mount Alvernia College – Kedron
Stuartholme School – Toowong
St Edmund’s College – Ipswich
St James College – Brisbane
St Joseph’s College – Gregory Terrace
St Joseph’s College – Nudgee
St Patrick’s College – Shorncliffe
St Patrick’s College – Townsville
St Rita’s College – Clayfield
St Ursula’s College – Yeppoon
Villanova College – Coorparoo
Closed
Mary MacKillop College – Nundah
St Laurence’s College – South Brisbane
St Brendan’s College – Yeppoon (closed for day students/program for boarders)
Released by the Queensland Catholic Education Commission
September 5, 2012