BY NOREEN NAVIN
& OWEN RICHARDS
SYDNEY — Thousands of NSW teachers will stop work for two hours on July 29 to discuss the NSW Teacher Federation's negotiations with Premier Bob Carr's Labor government over teachers' salaries.
NSW teachers have sought a settlement with the government for a total salary increase of 25%, to be phased in over two years. The Carr government has only offered a 3% per year increase, which would not even keep pace with the inflation rate.
The union's claim comprises a 10% increase from January 1, 2004, a 5% increase from July 1, 2004, and 5% rise from January 1, 2005, as well as an immediate 5% "catch up", as recommended by the Vinson inquiry.
The independent inquiry in public education in NSW, which was headed by Professor Tony Vinson, involved 28 public hearings across NSW beginning in September 2001. The three-person inquiry panel visited 150 schools and received 770 submissions from the public. Its report and recommendations were made public last October.
The Vinson inquiry concluded that teachers were performing outstandingly, but were being poorly remunerated for their efforts, despite the government's claim to value the social role of teachers.
The professional commitment of teachers throughout the state was identified by the Vinson inquiry as the number one asset of the public education system. The inquiry also made strong statements about the current inadequacy of teachers' salaries.
The government claims its pay offer is based on "incapacity to pay". Commenting on this claim, Socialist Alliance Sydney teachers caucus member John Morris said: "A 10% pay rise for teachers would cost the government $500 million. Labor has had no trouble finding $250 million for private school student transport, $100 million for interest-free building loans, $250 million to bailout Stadium Australia and $100 million for the Terrorism Response Unit."
Most teachers desperately want to avoid a conflict with the government like that which occurred during the last salaries negotiating round in 1999-2000, when the government vilified teachers as greedy for claiming a 7.5% per annum salary increase.
Dissatisfied with the government's offer, the Teachers Federation lodged its salaries claim with the NSW Industrial Relations Commission on July 8.
The July 29 stop-work meetings will consider a proposal by the Teachers Federation for NSW's 50,000 public school teachers to hold a one-day strike on September 17.
"A campaign of escalating full-day strikes would remind Andrew Refshauge that his position as the third education minister in two years is dependent on an early, substantial offer", Morris told Green Left Weekly.
Teachers are also angry about the NSW government's proposal to restructure the NSW Department of Education and Training (DET). The proposed restructure involves the loss of 1000 jobs among DET administrative staff. The government expects to save $60-70 million through these job cuts.
The restructure proposal is ostensibly about reducing "bureaucracy" in the DET and putting 300 teachers back into classrooms. However, this is misleading, as there won't be an extra 300 teachers brought into the system. Rather, existing vacancies will be filled, or current casuals will be displaced. The loss of 150 consultancy positions, a reduction of 25%, will weaken an already stretched support staff for schools and TAFE colleges.
The proposed restructure would also result in the creation of eight regions, replacing the current 40 districts. This will result in the establishment of 20 new positions across DET at the level of assistant director general — hardly a move to reduce bureaucracy in the department.
[Noreen Navin is a teacher at the Yagoona Public School.]
From Green Left Weekly, July 30, 2003.
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