Update: 6 May 2008

Yesterday an email was sent to all members in the Catholic sector advising of the breakthrough in AEU/Government negotiations. This update provides as much further information as we able to give you at this time.

NAPLAN Protest
Firstly, the NAPLAN action is CALLED OFF. This protest was planned to pressure the State Government into finalising a pay deal. As 'in principle' agreement has been reached, there is no longer any need to continue with this action. Likewise, distribution of postcards to parents need not continue, nor will meetings with local Labor MPs which were being held to pressure our elected representatives on the policy of their party. Our feedback shows that these strategies have been well supported and certainly brought pressure to bear on the Government.

Key Features of the 'In Principle' Agreement
Victorian teachers at the top of the incremental scale will become the highest paid teachers in Australia at $75,500 from May this year. Graduate teacher salaries will also be the highest at $51,184. The NSW figures are $75,352 and $50,522 respectively.

Most levels will also receive a one off payment of $1000 at the start of the Agreement.

The effective date of the increases in the government sector agreement is the pay period beginning 11 May 2008, subject to the agreement being ratified by AEU members and then the ballot of teachers and principals.

There is no loss of holidays and no loss of pupil-free days. There is, however, a change to the configuration of the pupil-free days in that now no more than three days will be scheduled before the start of the student school year. In the past, government schools had one day at the start of the year with three others through the year. Now there will be three at the start with the capacity to vary one of these with the agreement of the employer and one other day throughout the year. These days do not push back into the holidays. They push back into term time.

The extra class time referred to in media reports comes from a restatement of the existing Department regulation for government schools that requires 300 minutes of pupil instruction per day. We are advised that NO change has been made to the limits on scheduled class time for primary or secondary teachers. We understand that a few minor issues are still to be finalised and the Agreement is yet to be ratified by the AEU Council. Until these issues are finalised and the AEU have met, copies of the Agreement cannot be provided.

VIEU Councils - 17 May
A full report on the Government Sector Agreement will be given to a joint meeting of the VIEU Councils on 17 May. It is important that Reps or their proxy attend. At this meeting, details of the claim tabled on behalf of Catholic Employers will be discussed as well as the impact of the government sector deal. A full report will be given on the progress in our negotiations to date, as well as Employer responses to the VIEU claim.

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