IRC awards 5.5 per cent interim increase

By Brenda Seymour

Despite opposition from the State Government, claiming detriment to the economy, a full bench of the Industrial Relations Commission has delivered a 5.5 per cent interim pay increase to NSW teachers.

The Bench noted that "the NSW economy is in good shape at the present time and the outlook is favourable".

"On the basis of the material presented to us we consider the change in teaching work has been profound and that there are features of this matter that warrant the finding that a special case has been made out. Consequently we consider there is greater scope for ultimately rewarding more than six per cent over two years as proposed by the respondents."

"...any interim increase must be approached cautiously so as not to embarrass the final result," the interim decision also stated.

On January 28, 2004 an interim award was presented to the Industrial Relations Commission. The Commission has made the interim award to June 30, 2004. This enables any subsequent increase to be made from July 1, 2004.

The top of the common incremental salary scale is now $62,237. The Department of Education and Training paid the back pay to January 2, 2004.

A four year trained teacher now commences on $43,370. The head teacher school rate is $70,193 and a high school principal grade 1 is $100,332.

A full bench of the Industrial Relations Commission also brought down a decision in the Casual School Teacher/Temporary School Teacher case to "adjourn the matter until after the determination of the primary proceedings".

Federation is continuing in separate proceedings with 700 plus applications on behalf of women teachers with a history of non permanent school teacher work in the Anti Discrimination Board and the 'Amery Women' are continuing with their appeal.

Members' thanks have been expressed to Federation's Counsel in the major salaries case: Senior Counsel Steven Crawshaw; Counsel from H B Higgins Chambers Adam Hatcher and Mark Gibian; Federation Officers and staff; and the Federation's witnesses and members involved in inspections.

Significant in the interim decision for Federation members is the reference to the evidence from 67 witnesses and the inspections of Sarah Redfern Public School, Sarah Redfern High School, Passfield Park Special School, Model Farms High School, Winston Hills Public School and TAFE Colleges at Petersham and Sydney Institute.

The bench said:
"We should record the fact that we found these inspections most helpful in placing the oral and documentary evidence in perspective and we express our appreciation to the staff and students of those institutions for their assistance."
Members are reminded who the Department of Education and Training's witnesses were:

• Michelle Bruniges (then Assistant Director-General, School Educational Services, now Regional Director, Western Sydney)
• Carol Carrigan (then Relieving Assistant Director-General, Special Schools Special Needs Students and Equity Programs now Regional Director, North Coast)
• Kenneth Dixon (General Manager of Finance)
• Wayne Houston (Director, Technology Services and Deputy Chief Information Officer)
• Paul Irving (then General Manager of Personnel)
• John O'Brien (Director, Curriculum, Board of Studies)
• Kenneth Olah (District Superintendent, St George District)
• Barry Peddle (Institute Director, TAFE Illawarra Institute)
• John Pierce (Secretary, Treasury)
• Robert Randall (Director, Professional Support and Curriculum)
• Robin Shreeve (Deputy Director-General, TAFE)
• Bob Smith (Director, VET in Schools)
• Brian Smyth King (Director, Disability Programs)
• Lindsay Wasson (then District Superintendent, Mt Druitt District now Regional Director, New England)
• Garry Willmott (Assistant Director-General, TAFE Educational Services)

Increases over a decade