Teachers’ work was not fairly assessed

By Maree O’Halloran

The value of teachers' work was discounted by the Industrial Relations Commission in the teachers' salaries case because of the Carr Government's unprecedented legal and political intervention.

On June 9, the Industrial Relations Commission awarded a further 6.5 per cent in the salaries case for a total of 12 per cent over two years. This amount falls far short of Federation's just salary claim of 25 per cent. The Commission said they reduced the amount awarded as a result of the Government's arguments when it re-opened the case.

The Commission's judgment included references to "revolutionary" changes in teachers' work. However, the percentage increases clearly do not match the rhetoric of the judgement.

On June 10, the Commission made a decision in the Catholic school teachers' salaries case. While classroom teachers were awarded 12 per cent, teachers in promotions position were awarded between three and 7.5 per cent more.

The Industrial Relations Commission's decisions together put at risk quality public education in NSW. They are a direct result of the Premier's threats to the Industrial Relations Commission, the Government's re-opening of the public education teachers' case and the denigration of public education witnesses during the case.

The public education salaries case and the Catholic education salaries case ran simultaneously in the Commission and the unions made the same application. In the public education salaries case, the work and value of teachers was contested and witnesses cross-examined. The profession and the value of teachers' work was questioned, undermined and denigrated time and again.

By contrast, the Catholic employers agreed that teachers deserved a significant increase and the Catholic employers made a submission for teachers in promotions positions to be paid more. The Catholic employers were able to adopt this position because the Catholic system is awash with Federal and State Government money. They argued, and the Commission accepted, that teachers in promotions positions had responsibility for building the faith in the community. Government funding of Catholic schools is now specifically seen to be directed to building religion rather than educating children.

Government funding of private schools has resulted in serious and significant discrimination in industrial awards between the public system and the Catholic system. The work of all teachers in the public education system is clearly of no lesser value than that in the Catholic system. Our system caters for all students and supports greater concentrations of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. A quality public education system builds communities and a cohesive democratic society.

Federation has called for the State Government to rectify the damage done to public education by:

• sending a Ministerial Reference case to the Industrial Relations Commission to increase the 12 per cent for all teachers; and
• flowing-on the increases awarded in the Catholic case to public education teachers in promotions positions.

All teachers in public education deserve a 25 per cent increase. Federation's claim was for greater increases for teachers at the top of the scale. In addition, if the disparity between public and Catholic schools is not rectified now, then the next step may well be classroom teachers receiving less money than their Catholic counterparts. The precedent will have been set.

The Government has refused to re-open the teachers' case to increase the 12 per cent for all teachers. It has offered increases for teachers in promotional positions contingent upon a range of changes to all members' service, and transfer rights. The changes are straight from the discredited Scott/Metherell agenda. Federation has rejected the Government's plan and offer. The Government's intention to reintroduce the discredited devolution agenda has now been exposed and will be fought.

Action by the IRC

In the public interest, Federation is attempting to lodge claims for a review of the discounting of classroom teachers' salaries and a flow-on of the increases to promotions positions. There is no easy legal solution to the problem created by the Government's intervention in the public education teachers' salaries case.

The IRC told Federation the award had already been 'made', which makes re-opening the case difficult. The Commission advised Federation that seeking an award variation to flow-on the Catholic schools increases was an option. On June 28 (today), a date will be set for the Commission to hear that variation.

Federation has already lobbied every State Labor Member of Parliament about increasing the 12 per cent awarded to all teachers and is continuing to investigate legal avenues to pursue an increase for everyone before IRC.

Annual Conference will examine the workload of teachers in relation to the 12 per cent and continue to pursue increases for all teachers.

Maree O'Halloran is the President.

Full funding achieved in Budget

Salaries bans remain in place

Staffing agenda exposed

IRC makes its decision

Walkouts

For further information

June 2004 contents