Other workers and their pay claims

BRENDA SEYMOUR takes a look at public sector and other teachers' salaries claims, as Federation continues its campaign.

Members will be aware that the Iemma Government's current offer to public sector unions is 2.5 per cent pay increase per annum.

Public Service Association

The Public Service Association (PSA) has notified the IRC of a major salaries case for its members.

The PSA's claim is for a 6.5 per cent pay increase per annum. It is based on productivity and efficiency savings to government, not work value.

The matter was initially heard in preliminary conferences in the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC).

The Public Sector Workforce Office was suggesting that the only way forward was to look at the productivity and efficiency savings at a micro level in the public service. The PSA had no other option than to seek the assistance of the IRC.

The PSA is preparing evidence from 10 Departments.

Unions NSW

Unions NSW believes the NSW economy is fundamentally sound, although it is still being negatively affected by the high Australian dollar. However, dwelling construction - one of the key negatives which has impacted on the state economy for the last three years - is now set to emerge from its trough, and Unions NSW's current forecast is for an upturn to begin in 2008/09 and strengthen appreciably over the following two years. A recovery from the current drought is also likely to appreciably boost the state economy in 2008/09, driven by a rebound in the winter grain crop. These and other factors will be covered.

The claim is for 4.5 per cent pay increase per annum.

NSW Fire Brigade Employees Union

The firefighters have, however, ceased their industrial action on the basis of a six month interim award settled in the IRC on February 18.

The interim award provides the 2.5 per cent government pay offer up front (February 28, 2008) but with the IRC to consider the matter again for the expiry of the interim award in August 2008.

NSW Nurses Association and Health Services Union

Victorian teachers

In any move to a federal industrial relations system, where a universal pay scheme could be created, NSW teachers do not want to be pared back to the less well paid circumstances in other states and territories.

Western Australia

Emergency negotiations with the Western Australian government failed to appease the SSTUWA, which has rejected the offer of a 13 per cent pay rise.

On February 25, at the conclusion of a conciliation conference between the SSTUWA and the Department of Education and Training, the WA Industrial Relations Commission ordered the union to abandon the planned strike.

Western Australian teachers receive less pay than teachers in NSW.

United Kingdom

The UK National Union of Teachers (NUT), the largest teacher union in Europe is to ballot its members for an initial one day strike in April 2008.

The NUT has had imposed pay increases of 2.45 per cent per annum in response to its claim for a 10 per cent per annum pay increase. Contrary to international labour law, teachers in the UK have no negotiating rights. Their salaries are imposed by a review body. The 2.45 per cent pay increase will mean the third year of below inflation pay rises to teachers with the retail price index currently running at more than four per cent.

Brenda Seymour is the Assistant General Secretary (Research and Industrial).

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Last Modified: 07 Mar 2008