Salaries News - 17 November 2011

The Department of Education and Communities (DEC) has proposed savings to fund for school teachers a mere 0.12 per cent salary increase above the standard 2.5 per cent contained in the government's public sector wages policy.

On Monday 14 November, the Federation requested the DEC identify savings that might fund a salary increase for school teachers above 2.5 per cent.  Late on Tuesday 15 November the Department wrote to the Federation, identifying a saving that would fund an additional salary increase.  The department did not identify any saving that it "seeks to pursue" but identified, "as a point of reference", savings to fund a mere 0.12 per cent.  Those savings relate to a reduction in "top up" pay in workers compensation. 

The Federation and the Department met again in the morning of Wednesday 16 November, to continue discussions.  The discussions mirrored those of Monday.  The Department was unable to offer any other propositions, particularly of the magnitude they say is needed to fund additional salary increases.  Instead they asked the Federation to propose some savings.  The Federation is not able to propose anything that would not adversely impact on public school students.  The Federation asked for examples of what the Minister for Education and Communities has consistently said in the media is available to fund increases above 2.5 per cent.  There was no resolution to these discussions.

 The Federation and the Department will meet again at 2pm on Friday 18 November.

Today, Thursday 17 November, there will be an update in relation to other awards: AMES, Board of Studies, Corrective Services. 

At this time there have been no further developments in relation to TAFE.

Below is the letter about savings the Federation received from Peter Riordan, Deputy Director-General Workforce Managament and Systems Improvement.