WA's teachers' union has accepted the state government's contentious offer of a 2.75 per cent pay increase and signed off on a new, two-year agreement.
WA's teachers' union has accepted the state government's contentious offer of a 2.75 per cent pay increase and signed off on a new, two-year agreement.
Public sector wage growth in Western Australia has been constrained since Labor came to office in 2017 as Premier Mark McGowan has sought to rein in government debt and budget deficits.
While the state has since racked up consecutive, billion-dollar-plus budget surpluses, unions remain subject to a wages cap.
That cap was revised last December to whatever was greater between a 2.75 per cent or $1,000 increase per annum, however, the likes of UnionsWA boss Owen Whittle have come out swinging against the cap and argued it would not cover cost-of-living pressures for workers.
Mr McGowan has in turn defended the 2.75 per cent offer by arguing it is in line with state treasury official's bullish CPI figures over the forward estimates.
Now, the State School Teachers' Union of Western Australia, which had already reached an in-principle agreement with the state government, has given the nod to a 2.75 per cent wage increase after 70 per cent of members returned a vote in favour of it over the weekend.
Public school teachers will now receive backpay from December 2021 onwards, followed by another 2.75 per cent increase from December this year.
That's in addition to a school development day focused on curriculum support, reduced red tape as it pertains to performance management, and permamency for Aboriginal language teachers.
Industrial Relations Minister Bill Johnston praised the SSTUWA today for having 'fought hard' for its members.
"This agreement is an outcome of good faith bargaining," he said.
"I'm glad both parties were able to negotiate an agreement and secure this positive outcome for teachers and the public education system more broadly."
SSTUWA officials had previously expressed mixed opinions of the state government's offer, with union vice president Matt Jarman pointing out late last year that the increase would still amount to a pay cut in real terms.
Australian Principals Federation state president Bevan Ripp has been critical of the state government's offer, having last week called for a 'fair deal' to compensate for cost-of-living pressures.
His position is for a 5 per cent per annum pay increase.
“Our school leaders deserve better from a government with a record surplus but seemingly unwilling to invest in the education of our young people," he said.
"We have had enough of the hollow rhetoric."
Agreements covering about a third of the public sector's workforce are currently under negotiation, with the Public Servants and Government Officers agreement, which covers about 30,000 staff, the most notable.
