But Hennessy Catholic College principal Peter Webster has come out in support of the agreement, calling it equitable and sustainable.

Independent Education Union members at both schools voted to take industrial action last week in response to the new agreement.

St Mary’s and Hennessy said students would be supervised during the strike action, if parents chose to send their children to school. 

The union said the new agreement would strip back basic conditions, leading to reduced salaries, larger class sizes, fewer resources and less time spent with each student. 

“The draft agreement proposed by Catholic employers threatens to increase hours of face-to-face teaching, scrap restrictions on class sizes, abolish all promotions positions, take away the right to a half-hour meal break and reduce sick leave. Current support staff work would attract wages between $6,156 and $17,417 less per annum for the same work,” IEU general secretary John Quessy said.

“They say this is about teaching standards, but it has absolutely nothing to do with teaching standards.

“Members are assembling to protest this insulting and disrespectful proposal made by Catholic employers.”

But Hennessy Catholic College principal Dr Peter Webster hit out at the union, saying the new agreement reflected the changing circumstances of education in the 21st century.

“The proposed agreement rewards excellence in teaching, reduces distractions to the core work of learning and teaching and allows greater flexibility in the way we work,” he said in a letter to parents.

“We believe that what has been proposed is equitable, sustainable and supports excellence in education for our children.

“We have made it clear to the union and staff that the proposal is just a starting point for conversation…We believe this action is intended to stop discussion about important changes…”