However,the Department of Education is unlikely to breach a 2.5 per cent annual growth cap on public sector wages introduced by the Coalition government 10 years ago. The policy only allows the cap to be breached if productivity gains are negotiated.
The award expires in December and the federation wants negotiations to begin in October. Schools in Greater Sydney are due to begin reopening on October 25,when teachers will have to deal with the significant learning,developmental and emotional impacts on students due to the lockdown.
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A spokesman for the department said teacher salaries were competitive both nationally and internationally,and planning time was comparable with other states. “Any changes to teacher salaries and conditions will need to be considered in the context of these negotiations and the wages policy,” he said.
Over the past decade,the federation has focused its substantial resources on campaigning for more public school funding from the federal government. It has now redirected its attention to wages and conditions in NSW,amid mounting discontent from teachers.
It will begin a statewide advertising campaign on Thursday,pressing its case with parents and voters. The union has not ruled out industrial action,and has been holding rolling stop work meetings in regional and some city schools where teacher shortages have disrupted classes.
The federation’s president,Angelo Gavrielatos,said the wage claim of between five and 7.5 per cent was based on the findings of an inquiry chaired by former West Australian premier Geoff Gallop,which found teacher salaries had fallen well behind those of similar professions.