[English] o/t: Gov/AEU Agreement

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Victorian teachers to be nation's best-paid

Farrah Tomazin May 5, 2008 - 11:33AM
<http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/05/05/1209839508834.html>

The education union has hailed a deal that will make Victorian teachers 
the highest-paid in the country as the best deal for its members in more 
than 25 years.

The agreement between the State Government and the Australian Education 
Union (AEU) resolves a 14-month industrial row, which included three 
statewide teachers' strikes and weeks of rolling half-day stoppages.

The unions had threatened to walk off the job from May 13 to 15, 
disrupting during the first national literacy and numeracy tests. The 
resolution of the industrial dispute means those tests are now likely to 
go ahead without disruption.

AEU Victorian branch president Mary Bluett said it was the best enterprise 
bargaining deal for teachers that she had seen in 25 years with the union.

11% rise for some

However, there appears to be some contention over the increases announced 
by Premier John Brumby and Education Minister Bronwyn Pike this morning.

The Government says the deal will equate to a 4.9% pay rise in the first 
year and 2.7% in the second and third years of the agreement.

But the union believes some of biggest beneficiaries of the deal will get 
between 8% and 11%.

"It's a complex arrangement, but the least any teacher is going to get out 
of this is somewhere between five and six per cent per annum,'' Ms Bluett 
said.

"This is the best outcome in terms of salary and career structure in my 
history as a union official of 25 years standing,'' Ms Bluett said.

Pupil-free days to stay

A key sticking point in negotiations was the issue of pupil-free days, 
which the Government had originally wanted to abolish.

Under the new deal, three pupil free training days will be brought to the 
start of the term and become professional training days and only one will 
be held mid-term, in a bid to minimise disruption to parents.

It also includes an exits strategy to remove disengage teachers from 
classroom and find them new jobs.

Secondary students will get an extra six days of tuition each year under 
the deal, Mr Brumby said, describing it as a win for students and teachers.

"A graduate teacher in Victoria currently earns $46,127 and under this 
agreement will become the highest-paid graduate teacher in the country 
earning $51,184, while an experienced classroom teacher will receive a 
$10,000 pay rise to $75,500."

Mr Brumby said the pay deal was consistent with the Government's wages 
policy of a 3.25% rise every year, plus increases off-set by service 
improvement.

State-by-state teacher salaries:

Maximum for a classroom teacher 

Victoria - 2007: $65,414, 2008: $75,500

NSW - 2007: $72,454, 2008: $75,352

Queensland - 2007: $69,225, 2008: $71,994

South Australia - 2007: $68,422, 2008: $68,422

West Australia - 2007: $67,446, 2008: $71,206

ACT - 2007: $71,767, 2008: $74,279

Northern Territory: 2007: $70,047, 2008: $72,849


Graduate Entry 

Victoria - 2007: $46,127, 2008: $51,184

NSW - 2007: $49,050, 2008: $50,522

Queensland - 2007: $46,950, 2008: $48,829

South Australia - 2007: $49,605, 2008: $49,605

West Australia - 2007: $44,618, 2008: $45,733

ACT: 2007: $50,781, 2008: $50,781

Northern Territory: $49,944, 2008: $49,944

Source: Victorian Government 
--

Cheers people
Stephen Loosley
Victoria, Australia