Salaries negotiations start

By Maree O’Halloran

Negotiations for the 2006 award began on July 28.

The 2005 award ends on December 31 this year and teachers are due for an increase from January 1, 2006.

Federation was represented by the Senior Officers while the Department was represented by Deputy Director-General Corporate Services Martin Bowles and Industrial Relations and Employment Services General Manager Peter Riordan. Director General, Andrew Cappie-Wood, sent his apologies for this meeting.

At this first session Federation outlined the 2006 salaries claim and emphasised that the recent settlements of four per cent per annum for nurses, police and public servants had been fully funded with no trade offs. Furthermore, additional funding had been available for restructuring with enhanced salary for certain classifications.

Federation also emphasised that on July 17 it was reported that state politicians received a 4.1 per cent increase from the Statutory Remuneration Tribunal. Backbenchers now receive $110,650 per annum compared with $76,938 a decade ago.

The Department officials advised that the resignation of Premier Bob Carr meant that new instructions would need to be sought from the incoming Premier. Thus the first negotiation session ended with August 12 being set as the date for the next negotiation session.

Annual Conference determined that a Sky Channel early in term 4 would be held to consider the employer's offer and the result of negotiations.

Maree O'Halloran is the President.

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August 2005 contents