« We welcome the fact that the EU executive voted unanimously to support the government`s revised offer to vote for its members, » Lucas said. The Marshall Liberal government welcomed the decision by the Australian Education Union`s board of directors to unanimously approve the government`s corporate agreement offer for teachers, principals and kindergarten principals, in order to go to a vote by its members to resolve the long-standing wage dispute. The government has increased its offer of a « complexity allowance » for schools from 3 million $US per year, from 12 to 15 million $US. Each school receives funds that are used to help teachers cope with their workload with respect to students with complex needs, for example. B by the recruitment of additional teachers or auxiliaries and to cover the costs of specialised assistance. On average, schools receive $29,469 per year (and up to US$158,914 per year), with each school deciding how their funding will be spent. The government`s initial offer, last June, included 1.0% of the first 2.35% salary increase for teachers, which fell to October 2018. This revised offer brings to 1.35% the level of the first wage increase, which has been postponed to October 2018. The offer – which covers the period 2018-19-2022-23 – supports the state`s drive to be the country`s education leader through the creation and commitment of an experienced teaching staff. Salary increases of 2.35% per year for teachers and 3.35% for school principals and kindergarten principals, with salary increases until May 2022. The AEU will hold a vote by its members by the end of next week.
If the offer is supported, the next step will be the first week of the 1st Semester 2020 to coordinate the 28,000 teachers, school heads and auxiliaries of the State. If staff vote in favor of the offer, the agreement is formalized. In return, there will be greater flexibility in the management of human resources and some more reasonable rules for the system of allowances for teachers in rural schools. « The AEU`s request to suspend further hearings before the SA Employment Tribunal is further indication of the positive progress made by the parties in the negotiations. » This is a positive step forward and the government hopes it will lead to a reasonable solution to our corporate negotiations, which will allow for exceptionally fair and appropriate salary increases and will also offer more support and support to teachers in the classroom. Treasurer Rob Lucas said the fact that all parties (the government, the AEU and the Public Services Association) have agreed that the next conciliation hearing before the SA Employment Tribunal will not continue.