By Charlene Gatt
TWO Brimbank school principals had reservations about the new Victorian teacher pay agreement because of on-going negotiations.
Brimbank Secondary College principal Allen McAulliffe, who featured in an Australian Education Union television advertisement campaigning for better pay and better conditions, told Star last week he was in two minds about the agreement, which includes:
• All teacher’s pay to be increased.
• A one off payment of $1000 for teachers and $2000 for principals at the start of the agreement.
• The equivalent of six more days tuition for secondary school students.
• Executive contracts for high-performing principals.
“I am aware that negotiations are still continuing and that there’s no detail at the moment, so I haven’t seen anything at the moment in any way, shape or form to assess the outcome of the pay deal but I can say I’m really, really pleased that the Government and union are moving closer to resolution,” he said.
“Hopefully we’ll get to see something later next week, I think they’re still a bit away from giving us the details, certainly they haven’t recorded or notified any dates for briefings or anything like that for us yet. I really can’t make any sort of sound comment.”
Keilor Downs College Principal Peter Starford was similarly reserved.
“The staff feedback in general discussion is quite positive, people are very happy that finally there’s been an agreement reached and that the disruption occasioned by stop work action will cease.
“No-one is aware of the full details yet, but the information that has been coming out through both the department and the AEU seems to cause most people to be fairly positive about it.
“The detail is something that everyone will await with interest, of course, and especially what’s to be achieved through service improvement or outcomes.”
An Australian Education Union (AEU) spokeswoman told Star on Friday that although pay negotiations had been completed, they were still negotiating “other matters” in the agreement, which should be finalised by the end of the day. The agreement was still not out when Star went to print.
If the agreement is approved, Victorian teachers will become the highest paid in Australia, with a graduate-entry teacher earning $51,184 in their first year.
