Social Justice

The IEU has a long and proud history of supporting social justice campaigns.

Throughout the 1980s, the Independent Teachers Association (ITA), as the IEU was then known, through its affiliation with the NSW Labor Council (now Unions NSW) supported the African National Congress in its struggle against South Africa’s apartheid regime. See our history timeline

In 1983, the ITA Executive endorsed the ‘Australians for Nuclear Disarmament’ rally. ITA members marched behind a “Teachers for Peace” banner alongside their counterparts from the Teachers Federation.

For many years, the IEU has been represented on the Palm Sunday Rally Planning Committee along with other unions, church representatives and other allies. 

Prominent social justice involvements in recent times have also included planning and participation in May Day rallies and events in Newcastle, Port Kembla and Sydney; the promotion of justice and an end to discrimination against those in the LGBTQI+ community; commemoration at International Worker’s Memorial Day ceremonies; and engagement in the Environment and First Nations members’ rights, particularly in respect of our support for the Gomeroi people in protecting the Pilliga, as well as support for the YES referendum campaign.

Much of the social justice work undertaken by the union supplements, and is informed by, work being done by the IEU’s Environment Committee, Women and Equity Committee and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee.