NSW State Government is offering teachers a pay rise lower than the rate of inflation according to the NSW Teachers Federation.
The Teachers Federation President Angelo Gavrielatos attended the Barrier Teachers Federation meeting on Friday night to inform them of the Federation’s continuing fight against uncompetitive wages, unsustainable workloads and teacher shortages.
“The state is offering teachers a 2.04 per cent rise over three years when inflation is at 3.5 per cent and predicted to increase, a real cut to teachers’ wages and status of the profession,” Mr Gavrielatos explained.
In 2021 hundreds of secret state documents were discovered that predicted a shortage of 2425 teachers in NSW by 2025.
150 teacher positions were not filled in October last year in Barwon according to figures released by the NSW Department of Education.
Mr Gavrielatos said that the NSW Teachers Federation had suspended industrial action during the first term due to the profound impact of Omicron on students, parents and teachers.
He said this gave the NSW State Government an unparalleled opportunity to address the problems raised by the NSW Teachers Federation through negotiation and mutual agreement.
“Unless the Government demonstrates that it is serious in providing improvements in working conditions and salary justice by mid-March then the Federation will consider the full suite of actions including recommencement of industrial action,”.
The Federation acknowledged the support of the Member for Barwon, Roy Butler.
“He understands the issues facing teachers in regional NSW and that shortages are having a devastating impact on kids in the bush,” Mr Gavrielatos said.
There will be a State Teachers Federation meeting on March 19 which will decide the Federation’s next steps.
