By Melanie Sjoberg
ADELAIDE — The Industrial Relations Commission issued orders on June 4 that wages and workload negotiations between the South Australian Institute of Teachers (SAIT) and government were to be confidential to enable the parties to attempt to reach some agreement.
Since February, SAIT has been attempting, without success, to negotiate a wage increase with the state Liberal government. The initial government offer of 12% over two years, which includes acceptance of previous staff cuts and existing classroom sizes, has been decisively rejected by union members.
On June 18 and 19, the Advertiser printed internal departmental documents revealing a range of options for short- and long-term agreements. The leaked documents were used by the government to portray the SAIT's claims as unrealistic. State treasurer Steve Baker even threatened that a special "teachers' tax" would have to be introduced if teachers' claims were to be met.
SAIT members have voted to reinstitute industrial action with 72 hours' notice if the negotiations do not resolve the impasse. The IRC will hear a report on June 28.
In May, more than 9000 public sector health workers rejected a government enterprise bargaining offer. SA public servants were being asked to trade off conditions to receive pay increases as low as $36 over two years. The PSA and CPSU are still pursuing a 15% wage claim for all public sector workers. A mass meeting of members is being held on June 26 to determine the next phase of the campaign.
Meanwhile, the government announced on June 21 that 160 senior public servants would receive a salary increase — some as high as $30,000 per year! This comes hot on the heels of bonuses of up to $35,000 paid to 24 departmental chief executive officers in December.