Government double deals
MAREE O'HALLORAN comments on the Government's tactics in the salaries case.
The 'directions' hearing for the salary case in the Industrial Relations Commission was a fascinating example of government manipulation and intimidation. No less than 20 government officials stacked the courtroom flanking the Government's two legal teams. One team represents the Department of Education and Training (and hence Dr Andrew Refshauge) and one represents the Minister for Industrial Relations, John Della Bosca. The cost per minute of the Government's bid to hold down teachers' real wages is as staggering as its resolve.
This hearing is the second time the "Della Bosca" card has been played. Following the shifting of Ministers post election for a "new look" third-term Carr Government, Dr Refshauge advised Federation that negotiations would be with the Industrial Relations Minister. The Government's strategy was subsequently reported by the Sydney Morning Herald after an interview with Dr Refshauge. While this was an obvious public relations strategy to sideline and protect the Education Minister, Federation was prepared to negotiate with whomever the Government appointed.
The Government's next step occurred when Dr Refshauge formally made the offer of three per cent plus three per cent over two years. This offer is the Government's general wages offer which will be made available to all public sector unions in NSW and, indeed, around the nation. State Labor governments currently have the opportunity and the responsibility to plan to ameliorate the destruction that the Howard Government seeks to wreck on our social infrastructure and services. Instead they meet with a view to capping the real wage increase of teachers irrespective of the value of our work and the foreseeable loss of one in every four teachers in the next five to seven years. Thus, although Dr Refshauge took the "honourable" front row position, John Della Bosca was clearly a player behind the scenes.
Conciliation sessions in the Industrial Relations Commission have been deliberately rendered a farce by the Government sending "negotiators" instructed to repeat the Government's mantra of "three per cent and incapacity to pay". Not only has there been no attempt by the Government to conciliate or negotiate since the offer was made on May 12, but the Department has also failed to provide in writing for the Industrial Relations Commission precise details of critical issues. These issues (subject to Government funding) include the nature of the agreement to protect working conditions and its agreement to the merit of one incremental clock from January 1, 2004 for casual and temporary service. The former was part of the Government's offer and the latter was agreed in the 2002 Shaw negotiations.
Public education funding held to ransom
John Della Bosca was dealt back in the game in July when the Government decided that it required two legal teams to tell the Industrial Relations Commission that four per cent has been budgeted for public sector wages growth. The Government will make no further provision regardless of any arbitrated decision. Effectively the Government seeks to hold teachers and the Industrial Relations Commission to ransom. If teachers are awarded what they're worth (or even more than four per cent), the Government will find the resources from the "existing education budget".
Teachers across the state have resoundingly rejected such a scenario and called for a full funding commitment to protect a public education budget already slashed post the election. In the public interest, Federation members must now secure a significant breakthrough in salary and the funding line for that increase. The latter was formally a job for the Minister and Senior Department officials when "public service" meant more than "government service".
Nurses in NSW were promised full funding by the Premier before the outcome of their case in the Industrial Relations Commission. That commitment was referred to directly by the Full Bench in their decision. Teachers will need to keep fighting for that commitment to protect the public education budget and to create a fair context for the assessment of the value of teacher's work.
Minister's assurances put to the test
On May 13 (the day after the offer) Dr Refshauge said to members: "I've also said to the leadership of the Federation and I repeat it to yourselves -- there is no way that we will be presenting a Government position to undermine teachers or the work you do in the Commission either, or publicly in any dispute that we might continue on. The only argument that we'll be using is capacity to pay..."
When the case begins, those assurances will be demonstrably and publicly put to the test. The Government's two legal teams and their witnesses do not appear to have received Dr Refshauge's message and are currently preparing to undermine teachers and their work.
TAFE student fees
The Federation and Federation members in TAFE continue to fight the deplorable Government decision to impose TAFE fees in addition to the current administration charge. With community support and a sustained campaign, this decision can and must be reversed. The benefit to the Government's surplus budget is minuscule compared to the detrimental effect on TAFE students and potential students.
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August 2003 contents
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