Vic Teachers now highest paid means SA the lowest!

The Victorian Branch of the AEU has reached an 'in principle' agreement with the Brumby State Government which, provided the membership votes in favour of the deal, will make them the highest paid teachers in the country. Australian Education Union Victorian Branch President, Mary Bluett said the in principle agreement was a significant win for teachers, principals and school communities across the state.

"Today's outcome includes significant salary increases for Victorian teachers and improvements to the contract system of employment, to maximise the number of ongoing employees and provide greater financial security for teachers employed on contracts," Ms Bluett said.

Like the AEU's Claim in South Australia, a core component of the Victorian Claim dealt with the attraction and retention of quality educators.

"The focus of the AEU throughout this negotiation period has been to deliver an outcome that increased our ability to attract quality teachers to the profession and to retain teachers in Victorian public schools," said Ms Bluett.

Ms Bluett said the agreement included:

- Significant salary increases, which will make Victorian teachers the highest paid in the nation.

- A one off bonus of $1000 for most teachers and $2000 for principals.

- Improvements in the contract system of employment to maximise the number of ongoing employees and to provide greater financial security for teachers employed on contracts

- No loss of holidays and no loss of pupil free days, however a change to the configuration of the pupil free days. No more than three before the start of the student school year, with the capacity to vary one of these with the agreement of the employer.

- A restatement of existing Department regulation that requires 300 minutes of pupil instruction per day or 25 hours per week.

- The bringing forward of 210 Teacher Assistants to the start of the 2009 school year, with further discussions about expanding the program in subsequent years.

The three year agreement will be effective as of May 11 2008, subject to the agreement being ratified by AEU members and then a ballot of the Victorian Teaching Service.

If this deal between the Victorian State Government and the AEU is completed, it will mark the culmination of a long, hard-fought campaign and – given our government's insulting offer – is perhaps indicative of what lies ahead for AEU members here in South Australia.

Along with a range of conditions that will help teachers continue to provide the highest quality curriculum delivery, our Claim unashamedly seeks increases to salaries which are now the lowest in the nation. South Australia cannot afford to lag behind the other States when it comes to teachers salaries. Victoria has lost a large portion of its graduate teachers to schools overseas and states like Western Australia who have been forced to recruit from outside the of their own state borders in to counter massive teacher shortages.

As part of our ongoing campaign for fair pay, fair funding and a fair go for public education, the SA Branch of the AEU will be holding a number of after-school rallies in the coming weeks. The rallies are scheduled at this time so that minimum disruption is caused to students and parents. We urge everyone who has an interest in ensuring South Australian children receive the best in public education to attend. Watch this blog and check with your Sub-branch Secretary for further details.

Ed.