By Lucy Carroll
The union representing staff at 250 NSW private schools is demanding pay rises for teachers that would lift wages 5 to 7 per cent above the salaries for educators in the public system.
Under negotiations for a new enterprise agreement, the Independent Education Union is calling for an increase to private school teacher salaries to “maintain the traditional premium” above public schools while switching to a single seven-step pay scale.
The Independent Education Union is pushing for pay rises for private school teachers as part of a new multi-enterprise agreement.Credit: iStock
The claim for a new three-year deal comes eight months after 95,000 public school teachers secured a once-in-a-generation pay rise that boosted salaries by up to $10,000.
Union branch secretary Carol Matthews said while some independent schools already paid above NSW government rates, some schools had agreements with teaching salaries below those in the public system.
“We are seeking that the Association of Independent Schools NSW match the government rates for all teachers and maintain the traditional premium of 5 to 7 per cent,” she said.
“Some working conditions in this sector have traditionally not been regulated, such as face-to-face teaching hours, extras, playground duties and other requirements. And there is no portability of benefits between schools – so the premium recognises this.”
NSW public school teachers became among the highest paid in the country after securing a historic deal last year that lifted graduate pay to $85,000 and top-of-the-scale pay to $122,100.
IEU branch secretary Carol Matthews says the union wants independent school teacher salaries to “maintain the traditional premium” of 5 to 7 per cent above the government sector.Credit: Edwina Pickles
The government hoped the pay increases would help address chronic teacher shortages across the state.
Three multi-enterprise agreements govern teachers’ salaries at some 250 private schools. Entry-level salaries under those agreements range from $81,000 to $86,000, with the highest rates now similar to public schools.
One principal at a western Sydney Anglican school, who spoke anonymously so they could talk freely, said private schools had traditionally paid slightly above salaries in the government sector.
“The market is drifting towards the independent school sector. But rising costs of any kind will put pressure on school fees,” he said, adding his school had matched the government sector wage rises.
Many of Sydney’s top private schools lifted teacher salaries at the end of last year, with some institutions passing rises on to parents via significant fee hikes.
Some high-fee schools such as Newington College and The King’s School pay about 14 per cent above the current multi-enterprise agreement, with top-paid teachers earning about $140,000.
In a letter to staff last year, King’s headmaster Tony George said the school was committed to ensuring their salaries were competitive and “reflect the commitment required to fulfil the responsibilities of a teacher at the school”.
At Shore School, which operates under a separate award, teachers received a pay increase of $9000 following the government sector wage rises.
Principal John Collier said the rise “reflects the fact the school expects a huge amount” from its staff.
“Therefore we pay them to reflect the teaching, pastoral work, performing arts and co-curricular activities required. It also recognises that inflation was eating into value of their salaries,” he said.
“Our staff put in hours before, after school and on weekends during formal activities. However, staff know there is no expectation they will respond to emails after normal working hours.”
The next enterprise agreement is being negotiated between the Independent Education Union and some 250 schools represented by the Association of Independent Schools NSW.
AIS chief executive Margery Evans said it was proposing that all schools move to an agreement that replicates the government award with seven steps to the top of scale.
The negotiations come as private school associations urge the Fair Work Commission to retain the flexibility they say they need from teaching staff to run co-curricular and other activities.
Evans said the AIS’ joint submission requests that the Fair Work Commission “considers the operational needs of schools to supervise co-curricular activities, attend overnight school trips or provide pastoral care in the event of a school tragedy”.
Matthews said the “right to disconnect means that when a teacher is not required to be at work or undertaking other designated duties, they are free to switch off outside of normal school hours”.
“If they are supervising sport on a Saturday, they are at work. But when they’re not at school or performing required duties, teachers have a right to their own time like everyone else,” she said.
“Teachers have heavy workloads, and most do marking or lesson planning outside of school hours, but they should not have to take calls or respond to emails during that time.”
One principal at a mid-fee Sydney private school said they had lifted salaries for their teachers after the state government awarded pay rises for their teachers.
“I was very keen to do that quickly, and it was well deserved. It was massive for us to match that,” she said.
A spokesperson for Catholic Schools NSW said that Catholic systems matched the pay rises at public schools after the government announced the salary increases. The NSW government and NSW Teachers Federation will begin negotiations in early September for a new three-year award.
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