State Budget critical to campaigns

The State Budget due in May 2004 will be a critical event in both the salaries campaign and the TAFE fees campaign, writes MAREE O'HALLORAN.

Within weeks of the Industrial Relations Commission's interim decision to award teachers 5.5 per cent until June 30, 2004, State Treasurer Michael Egan began his assault. Pay increases for teachers and nurses, claimed the Treasurer, could force the State Budget into deficit. He also claimed there would be no stamp duty relief in NSW because of pay increases to teachers and nurses.

The Treasurer's media campaign about the next State Budget is designed to influence the public and pressure the Industrial Relations Commission in the lead up to the final decision for teachers. This State Government is not to be trusted. It is a government which misrepresents the Budget and the state of the economy. Throughout 2003 the State Government has deliberately misrepresented to the NSW public its arguments about teacher salary increases and full funding. Since May 12, 2003, when the Government first made its three per cent per annum offer the Premier, the Treasurer and the Minister for Education and Training have maintained that the offer was based on the Government's "incapacity to pay". Immediately following the Commission's decision the Government announced that it could fund 5.5 per cent for six months.

The Government's announcement on December 19, 2003 through the media that it would fully fund with additional monies the 5.5 per cent interim increase was a welcome recognition of the Federation's logical arguments in this regard. It also showed that the Government had no compunction peddling lies throughout the salaries case. The State Government's position in regard to both the quantum increase in teachers' salaries and full funding to protect the public education budget has been both economically irresponsible and unsustainable.

In the wake of the interim decision, Federation has called for the State Government to provide and fully fund the claim of 25 per cent over two years.

The following issues are of continuing concern:
1. The media campaign by the Premier and the Treasurer about the next State Budget designed to influence the public and pressure the Industrial Relations Commission.
2. The failure of the Premier and the Minister to respond to Federation representations about full funding of the final decision and increases for public education teachers in AMES, Corrective Services, the Board of Studies and the other Federation members not covered by the main award.
3. Deliberate misrepresentations by the Government and the Department in the Industrial Relations Commission. These relate to the nature and the value of teachers' work, particularly, although not exclusively, in relation to assessment and reporting and to work value considerations in previous consent awards.

The bans remain in place pending significant progress in negotiations in relation to 2 and 3 above. Members also need to be ready to enact the proposed 48-hour strike if the final decision is not fully funded.

The State Budget, although deliberately rendered opaque by government, must be the next benchmark for the salaries campaign and the TAFE fees campaign. Federation has called for the final salaries decision as early as possible before the 2004 State Budget is finalised. An early decision will force the Government to budget for the increases.

TAFE fee increases were introduced in the 2003 State Budget. Membership action has reversed some of these increases and the campaign must now focus on reversing more in the State Budget.

Maree O'Halloran is the President.

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February 2004 contents