By Nick Fredman

SYDNEY -- On May 15, the NSW Teachers Federation announced that it had lodged a claim with the Industrial Relations Commission for a 12% pay rise from July 1, 1997. This is in addition to a claim before the state government of 12% (6% from January 1, 1996 and 6% from July 1, 1996), which has been the subject of a dispute since July 1995.

The new claim is a counter-claim to the government's award application before the IRC, which demands a number of trade-offs, including the halving of sick leave, cutting of allowances and loss of 2500 jobs. The federation has stated its preference for the original 12% without trade-offs or arbitration.

Contrary to education minister John Aquilina's widely reported claims that a 7.1% wage rise is available immediately and without trade-offs, proceedings of the IRC make it clear that the government is not offering any pay increase without arbitration and the acceptance of trade-offs.

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