A SENIOR Millicent educator has labelled the State Government’s current pay and work conditions offer “abysmal” as the contract deadlock continues.
Several Millicent public school staff members ceased work for an hour on Thursday as part of a statewide rolling work stoppage, backed by the Australian Education Union, opposing the State Government proposal.
Union member and Millicent High School staff member Kristie Williams said staff did not “take this action sightly” and were fighting for decreased class sizes and complexity, better job security rather than constant contracts, and more resources and funding to attract and retain staff in regional areas.
Ms Williams said the union and its president, Howard Spreadbury, were continuously negotiating with the government for an outcome that suited both parties, adding the union had been “surprised” by the government’s recent decision to take the matter to the SA Employment Tribunal.
“The AEU had planned meetings before and after (the decision),” Ms Williams said.
Other issues the union would like addressed include the $12m education package only going to select schools, and the ICT (information and communication technologies) budget being slashed by $40m for all schools.
Millicent High School principal and AEU member John Shelton said the government’s repeated claims that teachers were being offered 2.35pc pay rise during the current enterprise bargaining agreement was dishonest.
“(The staff) have not had a pay raise since October 2017,” he said.
“There was no new agreement in October 2018 even though there is supposed to be one every 12 months.
“In May we learned that for the next 12 months, all the way until May 2020, we would be offered the ‘princely’ sum of a 1.35pc pay rise.
“It’s abysmal … Then we would get the 2.35pc rise a whole 12 months later and only if we chose the 1.35pc offer.
“Our offer of back pay since October is 1pc.
“It’s a disgrace – 1pc does not even keep up with the cost of living.”
In a statement from Treasurer Rob Lucas’s office, Mr Lucas said the government would not shift their position on a salary rise but could negotiate on conditions.
“No amount of industrial action would give taxpayers any more money to spend on salary increases beyond the 2.35pc offered to teachers and 3.35pc offered to principals and preschool directors,” he said.
“This is a generous offer given that inflation is currently only 1.4pc.
“The government, however, has indicated its willingness to negotiate on conditions, such as providing additional assistance within the classroom.
“An independent conciliator has been appointed and we call on union bosses to call off industrial action, sit down with the government and try resolve the dispute in the interests of students, parents and grandparents.”
