Your bargaining questions answered

If it's your first time or your tenth time bargaining, there are always questions to be answered. We've put together a list of FAQs, but if you can't find your answer here, never hesitate to get in touch.

What is enterprise bargaining?

Enterprise bargaining is the formal process through which an enterprise agreement is negotiated and finalised.

When it comes to bargaining for public schools and preschools in South Australia, this negotiation is generally between the Employer (the Department for Education and the government) and the Australian Education Union (SA Branch).

There are clear rules about how bargaining happens, including when negotiations can start, what an enterprise agreement can cover, and how the agreement is approved.

What is an enterprise agreement?

Enterprise agreements are deals made between employers and workers and their union about the terms and conditions of their employment. Enterprise agreements cover different issues depending on the group the agreement will cover.

For public educators, an enterprise agreement covers things like pay, allowances (like CIZA and toileting), leave entitlements, dispute resolution processes, Non-Instruction Time and Face-to-Face time, permanency entitlements, and lots more.

When does bargaining start?

Together, we can start the formal process of enterprise bargaining six months before the current agreement expires. EA24, the current schools and preschools enterprise agreement, expires on 25 March 2027. That means bargaining for EA27 can commence from 25 September 2026.

Who is covered by EA27?

The 2027 School and Preschool Education Staff Enterprise Agreement will cover all working public educators, including those currently on leave but still employed as a public educator in South Australia. The full list of public educators covered by the agreement is:

• Teachers and Leaders (preschool or school)
• Seconded Teachers
• Aboriginal Education Workers (AEW)
• Early Childhood Workers (ECW)
• School Services Officers (SSO)
• Swimming and Aquatic Instructors

How long does an enterprise agreement last?

The School and Preschool Education Staff Enterprise Agreement has historically been a three-year agreement – the current Enterprise Agreement (2024) runs on a three-year cycle. However, the State Government amended the Fair Work Act 1994 (SA) and since 1 January 2026, the maximum term of an Enterprise Agreement can now be four years, not three.

The AEU will endeavour to maintain the three-year cycle, as this affords us the opportunity to improve conditions regularly and respond to economic and education changes quickly, whilst leaving enough time between agreements for improvements to be implemented at a site level.

How do I support enterprise bargaining?

If you’re a public educator, the best thing you can do to support enterprise bargaining is join the AEU. Big wins are secured by a strong membership; that’s why every public educator needs to stand together.

If you’re already a member, the best thing you can do is talk to your non-member colleagues about joining. If you want tips on having these conversations, scroll down on this page to the "How do I talk to my colleagues about joining the AEU?" section.

If you’re not a public educator, but you care about public education and want to show your support, thank you! We need community voices to amplify our message. Head to our Show Your Support page to get started.

How do I join the AEU?

Can you afford to wait another three years for real change? Join today. It’s quick and easy. Just click here.

The decisions made during bargaining will affect your pay and working arrangements for years to come. Join the AEU today so you can be part of shaping the outcome and have support behind you every step of your career.

What is industrial action?

During the enterprise bargaining process, there usually comes a time when AEU members may need to apply some pressure to the Department and the government. Industrial action can demonstrate the power and support educators have as they fight for much-needed improvement.

Most people know about strikes and rallies, but industrial action often starts smaller. It can include wearing red to work, attending rallies, rolling stop-work action, or working to rule by doing only the duties you're required to do.

These actions are powerful and have helped members win better pay and working arrangements in past bargaining campaigns.

Only AEU members are protected when they take industrial action. Industrial action is formal. For example, if you’re not a member and you don’t turn up to work on a strike day, you can face the same discipline you would if you failed to turn up to work on any other day.

Will the Department know if I join the AEU?

No. The Department will not know if you join the AEU.

The only person at your site who will be notified is your Sub-Branch Secretary or AEU Rep – they’re your local union leader.

Joining a union is your legal right. Your employer cannot require you to disclose your membership or treat you differently because you're a union member.

Will joining the AEU impact my chances of becoming permanent?

Only for the better. Being an AEU member means you’re supported every step of the way if you decide to apply for permanency. Our team can help you check your eligibility, take the formal steps to apply, and get the timing right.

Under law, your employer cannot demand to know if you’re a union member, nor can they discipline or disadvantage you if they find out you are a union member. If you think you have been disadvantaged because you’re an AEU member, we can support and represent you.

How do I talk to my colleagues about joining the AEU?

Growing our union is the most important thing we can do to improve pay and conditions in South Australian public education. Victoria shows what's possible. During their last bargaining campaign, more than 20,000 educators joined the AEU. That growth helped double the Government's original pay rise offer.

Every conversation matters. Here's a simple way to talk to your colleagues about joining:

Listen. Start with them, not the union. Ask questions and find out what matters to them. What do they enjoy about their job? What's keeping them up at night? Are they worried about workload, pay, permanency, student behaviour or work-life balance?
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‍Relate to your own experiences. Talk about why you joined, why you've stayed a member, or how being a member has made a difference for you. Keep it personal and genuine.
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‍Connect what they care about to why membership matters. Show how the issues they've raised are the same issues members work together to improve through bargaining, campaigning and workplace action.
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‍Explain why membership matters. Better pay and conditions don't happen by themselves. They're won when educators stand together. Every new member makes our collective voice stronger.
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‍Ask them to join. Don't wait for them to ask you. A simple question like, 'Would you consider joining the AEU?' is often all it takes.

How did Victoria improve their offer?

When Victorian public educators secured huge improvements to their enterprise bargaining offer earlier this year, 80% of all public educators in the state were AEU members.

That level of membership gave educators a stronger voice and greater bargaining power.

We're now preparing for bargaining in South Australia. The more educators who join before negotiations begin, the stronger our position will be to improve pay and working conditions for everyone.

Still have questions? Reach out anytime.