“RELIEF” was the major reaction to the end of more than two years’ pay dispute, according to Australian Education Union (AEU) state councillor Phil de Morton.
The Beverford Primary principal attended a meeting of all councillors on Wednesday, where union representatives voted “overwhelmingly” in support of the new deal.
“There was an acclamation from 100 people there, of relief that the dispute was over.
“Everyone was extremely happy to have it resolved.”
In a four-hour meeting, the proposed agreement negotiated between union and Napthine Government still faced criticism for not meeting all teachers’ requests, such as more preparation time for teachers and smaller classes.
With senior AEU representatives spending hours discussing how the agreement was made, Mr de Morton said the teachers were positive about salary increases.
“[Most] agreed with the sentiments, that this was the most they could achieve.”
The State Government announced its pay offer would provide a three per cent salary increase in 2013, 2.75 per cent in 2014 and 2.75 per cent in 2015 with a $1000 sign-on bonus for all school staff.
In a letter to its members, the AEU said by 2016 the rises would amount to 12 per cent to 17.1 per cent for support staff, 16 per cent to 20.5 per cent for teachers and principals would receive a 17 per cent to 19.6 per cent increase.
Under the deal, teachers at the top of the pay scale would become the second highest paid in the nation, higher than New South Wales, but less than Western Australia.
Mr de Morton said industrial action, involving months of reduced reporting, school camps and after school activity, went on for “no apparent purpose except beligerance”.
“Even though we’re not privy to the content of the negotiating room, I believe they just came there and said ‘this is it, no discussion’.
“They left saying ‘there’s no point’, until they budged on performance pay.”
Mr de Morton said the negotiation process needed to be reviewed before Victorian teachers’ pay is renegotiated in three years’ time.
“In another three years, the whole process will happen again. It needs to be reviewed, because it’s nonsense.”
