❓ The Minister for Education outlines the government's achievements in negotiating a new pay agreement with the State School Teachers' Union, highlighting salary increases, reduced professional development requirements, and increased allowances for teachers in regional schools.
AnsweredQoN 20Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TEACHERS — ENTERPRISE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
Will the minister inform the house about what the government achieved during salary negotiations with the State School Teachers’ Union of WA and what benefits a new pay agreement will provide to teachers across the state? Dr E. CONSTABLE
Will the minister inform the house about what the government achieved during salary negotiations with the State School Teachers’ Union of WA and what benefits a new pay agreement will provide to teachers across the state? Dr E. CONSTABLE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. We all know that in just over 40 days, this government has achieved what the previous government could not achieve in a year—an agreement with the State School Teachers’ Union. There were three main changes and additions to the previous offers that were rejected by teachers. The new agreement provides an additional $120 million, which was promised during the election campaign and was delivered. That will mean that the salaries of most teachers and school administrators in government schools will increase by more than 20 per cent. The government also removed the requirement under the previous agreement for 15 hours of professional development outside school hours. We recognised the amount of professional development that teachers already undertake during the course of the year. There are 13 new regional schools; teachers in these schools will qualify for a $5 000 allowance under the country teaching program. This will increase to 272 the number of schools at which this allowance is paid to teachers. I am encouraged by the response to this agreement. The anecdotal evidence I have received is that teachers are generally happy with it, and I am very hopeful that on 3 December, when the vote closes, we will have an agreement. I take this opportunity to thank members of the union and of the Department of Education and Training for the extraordinary amount of work they put in over 40 days to get to this point. I think we have a very good agreement.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. We all know that in just over 40 days, this government has achieved what the previous government could not achieve in a year—an agreement with the State School Teachers’ Union. There were three main changes and additions to the previous offers that were rejected by teachers. The new agreement provides an additional $120 million, which was promised during the election campaign and was delivered. That will mean that the salaries of most teachers and school administrators in government schools will increase by more than 20 per cent. The government also removed the requirement under the previous agreement for 15 hours of professional development outside school hours. We recognised the amount of professional development that teachers already undertake during the course of the year. There are 13 new regional schools; teachers in these schools will qualify for a $5 000 allowance under the country teaching program. This will increase to 272 the number of schools at which this allowance is paid to teachers. I am encouraged by the response to this agreement. The anecdotal evidence I have received is that teachers are generally happy with it, and I am very hopeful that on 3 December, when the vote closes, we will have an agreement. I take this opportunity to thank members of the union and of the Department of Education and Training for the extraordinary amount of work they put in over 40 days to get to this point. I think we have a very good agreement.
I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. We all know that in just over 40 days, this government has achieved what the previous government could not achieve in a year—an agreement with the State School Teachers’ Union. There were three main changes and additions to the previous offers that were rejected by teachers. The new agreement provides an additional $120 million, which was promised during the election campaign and was delivered. That will mean that the salaries of most teachers and school administrators in government schools will increase by more than 20 per cent. The government also removed the requirement under the previous agreement for 15 hours of professional development outside school hours. We recognised the amount of professional development that teachers already undertake during the course of the year. There are 13 new regional schools; teachers in these schools will qualify for a $5 000 allowance under the country teaching program. This will increase to 272 the number of schools at which this allowance is paid to teachers. I am encouraged by the response to this agreement. The anecdotal evidence I have received is that teachers are generally happy with it, and I am very hopeful that on 3 December, when the vote closes, we will have an agreement. I take this opportunity to thank members of the union and of the Department of Education and Training for the extraordinary amount of work they put in over 40 days to get to this point. I think we have a very good agreement.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. We all know that in just over 40 days, this government has achieved what the previous government could not achieve in a year—an agreement with the State School Teachers’ Union. There were three main changes and additions to the previous offers that were rejected by teachers. The new agreement provides an additional $120 million, which was promised during the election campaign and was delivered. That will mean that the salaries of most teachers and school administrators in government schools will increase by more than 20 per cent. The government also removed the requirement under the previous agreement for 15 hours of professional development outside school hours. We recognised the amount of professional development that teachers already undertake during the course of the year. There are 13 new regional schools; teachers in these schools will qualify for a $5 000 allowance under the country teaching program. This will increase to 272 the number of schools at which this allowance is paid to teachers. I am encouraged by the response to this agreement. The anecdotal evidence I have received is that teachers are generally happy with it, and I am very hopeful that on 3 December, when the vote closes, we will have an agreement. I take this opportunity to thank members of the union and of the Department of Education and Training for the extraordinary amount of work they put in over 40 days to get to this point. I think we have a very good agreement.
I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. We all know that in just over 40 days, this government has achieved what the previous government could not achieve in a year—an agreement with the State School Teachers’ Union. There were three main changes and additions to the previous offers that were rejected by teachers. The new agreement provides an additional $120 million, which was promised during the election campaign and was delivered. That will mean that the salaries of most teachers and school administrators in government schools will increase by more than 20 per cent. The government also removed the requirement under the previous agreement for 15 hours of professional development outside school hours. We recognised the amount of professional development that teachers already undertake during the course of the year. There are 13 new regional schools; teachers in these schools will qualify for a $5 000 allowance under the country teaching program. This will increase to 272 the number of schools at which this allowance is paid to teachers. I am encouraged by the response to this agreement. The anecdotal evidence I have received is that teachers are generally happy with it, and I am very hopeful that on 3 December, when the vote closes, we will have an agreement. I take this opportunity to thank members of the union and of the Department of Education and Training for the extraordinary amount of work they put in over 40 days to get to this point. I think we have a very good agreement.
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