Updated campaign engine focuses on the economics

by Dennis Long

The importance of full funding from Treasury for any salary increase has been highlighted in more than 6000 letters sent to state politicians.

Letter writers sent their letters using the most recent update of the salaries campaign engine on the Federation's website.

Members who go to www.nswtf.org.au and follow the prompts through the Valuing Teachers logo have the option of sending a letter to politicians that calls on them to "take all steps necessary to ensure that the State Government fully funds our claim from Treasury".

The letter calls for the Government to increase its offer of three per cent per year and to pay the Vinson 5% catch-up as "a gesture of goodwill before arbitration" commences. The letter also calls on the Government to resile "from its public commitment to work with other state governments to hold down real wage growth for teachers".

The letters sent support for the 'public interest' argument to be put to the Industrial Relations Commission. The letter indicates that "investment in the status and salaries of the profession is a major government responsibility"; that "it is now time for a major breakthrough on teachers' salaries to reassert the status of teaching and learning in our society"; and that "students and communities are put at risk by the continued undervaluing of the profession".

Members have reinforced the work value evidence to be put to the Industrial Relations Commission (Education, August 4) when they have written that the Government's "proposed increases do not reflect the value of the work of teachers".

Members visiting the campaign engine can also easily indicate their support for the total claim of 25 per over two years with the award to end in December 2005.

Visitors to the website can subscribe to a campaign news mailing list, access five articles (at the time of writing) about the latest news and a package of research and resources or follow a link to 16 other articles posted since February this year.

Dennis Long is the Editor.

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005