Image: Photo: NSW Teachers Federation/Facebook.
By JUSTIN COOPER
Ongoing negotiations between the NSW Government and the NSW Teacher Federation (NSWTF) continue to loom, with the union body and teachers requesting the government to “honour the deal.”
Negotiations are now at a standstill, with the NSWTF pushing for initial agreements to be met and the government wanting to continue negotiations.
Since the beginning of August, Teachers across have criticised the state government for backing away from initial deals made with the union body which would’ve made NSW teachers one of the highest paid in the country.
The initial one-year deal which would have raised graduate teacher wages by 12 percent and senior staff by 8 percent. It has now been met with a four-year deal which would cap wages with 2.5 percent increases each year.
Union rejects latest deal
The union body has labelled the new offer as an “act of betrayal.” NSWTF Deputy President, Henry Rajendra, says the wage cap will not address teacher shortages or provide adequate payment.
“We are grappling with 12 years of neglect under the previous Government,” explains Rajendra.
“That doesn’t get fixed by lifting wages for one year only to be followed by a 2.5 per cent wage cap that will pave the way for other jurisdictions to leapfrog NSW.”
Rajendra says problems regarding increasing teacher workloads have been “brewing for years.” With “more than two thousand vacant” positions across the state, he says that workloads have continued to “intensify” for existing teachers.
“Yet salaries have fallen in comparison with other professions and states. An enduring commitment to higher salaries and reducing workloads remains the solution to addressing teacher shortages,” says Rajendra.
“If we don’t pay teachers what they are worth, we won’t get the teachers we need and vacancies will continue to grow.”
Teachers left frustrated
City Hub spoke with first-year primary school teacher Emerson*, who details the “little support” for teachers and their workload.
Working in a casual position 4-days a week whilst finishing their honours at university, Emerson has noticed their teaching workload gradually increase since starting the job earlier this year.
“Teachers are few and far between. If somebody is off sick, teacher release is absorbed and classes are split between stages. This leaves little time to plan and is extremely stressful,” said Emerson.
Emerson explained the difficulties of the position, especially in addressing all student learning levels and concerns whilst adhering to NESA requirements.
In addition to preparations, teaching, and personally assisting students and families with personal concerns, Emerson said the current payment is not reasonable in comparison to their output.
“There is no access to overtime, we are paid six hours a day for maybe ten to twelve hours of work,” said Emerson.
“I have weekly meetings, observations, report writing, running year six events and attending after hours events like discos, farewells, camps etc. – unpaid. It is extremely overwhelming whilst being full time at university.”
Still living with their parents and not paying rent, Emerson questioned “how teachers with families are able to keep afloat,” considering wages and the amount of work involved.
“The fallout is expected, teachers are at their breaking point,” warned Emerson.
Teachers have continued to express their disappointment with the state government backing away from the deal.
NSWTF members have held multiple demonstration over the past month, and many have taken to social media to call for initial deals to be revived with the hashtag “#HonourTheDeal.”
The NSWTF have warned the government of increased industrial action if a resolution cannot be made by the end of the month.
Hunter Workers delegates demanding the government #honourthedeal Unions in the Hunter know our teachers deserve better @ChrisMinnsMP @pruecar @dmookheyMLC @TeachersFed @Sonia_Hornery @ClaytonBarrMP @jennyaitchison @crakanthorp @KateRWashington @JodieH_MP @HunterUnions pic.twitter.com/FwLrEUYbXO
— jgwaight (@jgwaight) August 24, 2023
Teachers united will never be defeated! Public school and catholic school teachers are ropable with the NSW Labor government at @ChrisMinnsMP office in Kogarah right now #honourthedeal @TeachersFed @henryrajendra @IEUNSWACT pic.twitter.com/hBnLcFjGZD
— Kelly Marks (@kelmarx83) August 17, 2023
* This person’s name has been changed to protect their identity
