Teachers to be offered a 15-25 per cent pay rise

23/6/95

The State's school teachers are to be offered a 15 to 25 per cent pay rise, which will make them among the highest paid in Australia.

The generous new pay offer announced today by Education Minister Norman Moore was approved by a special Cabinet meeting last night.

Mr Moore described the 15 per cent to 25 per cent increase as the best offer the Government could make - or the community could afford.

"It means that a teacher who earns almost $39,000 a year will get, over time, almost $45,000," the Minister said.

"The three-instalment increase will become effective as soon as the teachers agree.

"Until now, I have declined to negotiate with the State School Teachers' Union because of the imposition of work bans.

"The union refused to lift them even though they had been ordered to do so by the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

"However, for the sake of our children we must focus on the future and get the school program back on track."

Mr Moore said there was now no excuse for the teachers to maintain work bans. All Western Australians would expect them to resume normal work.

The Minister said the union must now act in the interests of its members.

"The full offer, which involves some trade-offs, needs to be fully considered by all teachers and the union would be irresponsible to anticipate their attitude," Mr Moore said.

"This impasse has gone on for far too long and the Government - and the people - have been very patient.

"It is time for common sense.

"If teachers refuse to budge after a pay offer of almost $6000, then there will be overwhelming public disappointment.

"All teachers, principals and superintendents received the offer this afternoon and we have met with the union.

"Further briefings and the distribution of information will continue over the weekend and next week.

"We are ready to begin negotiations immediately and we trust that the union will also join in the spirit of this offer and order the lifting of bans."

The Minister said that although the pay increase would be of most interest, the quality of education was the key issue.

He said the Government would undertake to examine the union's other demands, but many of those issues were being addressed through:-

·       Schooling 2000 and the GoodStart Program.

·       Budgetary increases which will enable improvements to facilities and equipment in need of urgent attention.

Education received a 5.5 per cent increase in the 1995-96 Budget, which further emphasised the Government's commitment to improved schooling and to guaranteeing the future of the State's most precious asset - its children.

Teachers accepting the offer will receive five per cent from registration (to include the $8 enterprise bargaining safety net amount already paid), five per cent next year and the last instalment the following year.

In return teachers will be required to agree to:-

·       development of a duty statement for all teachers to ensure that learning programs are not disrupted;

·       changes in some employment conditions;

·       professional development in their own time;

·       performance management;

·       greater control of resources and management at the school level; and -

·       greater flexibility in how schools operate.

School administrators will receive a separate offer.

"This offer, coupled with the new direction in education, will provide unique opportunities for teachers," Mr Moore said.

"The programs we announced this week and other studies soon to be released are bold initiatives.

"It is now up to the teachers to respond to this very generous offer."

Media Contact:  Anabel Gomez  321 1444  /  222  9595