Teacher pay and condition deal nod

THE Australian Education Union and the Tasmanian Government have agreed on a 2 per cent pay rise and improved conditions for teachers.

The Teaching Service Agreement for the state’s public school teachers and principals was lodged with the Tasmanian Industrial Commission on Friday.

The AEU said the 15-month agreement was endorsed by a majority of members in a ballot.

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the in-principle agreement was consistent with the Government’s 2 per cent wage policy while ensuring teachers get a deserved rise.

AEU Tasmania president Helen Richardson said the rise would be backdated to March 1 and run until June 30 next year, once it was registered by the industrial commission.

Ms Richardson said the agreement included improvements to conditions including increased maternity and paternity leave and measures to address teacher workload and principal health and wellbeing.

“We’re pleased to have reached an agreement that delivers salary gains and improves a number of working conditions,” she said.

“Entry level teachers, in their first five years of service, will no longer be lowest paid and this will go some way, at least in the short term, in helping attract and retain young teachers to the profession.”

“There are also good salary gains for senior experienced teachers who will be lifted off the bottom when compared with their peers interstate.”