Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning, Prue Car says the NSW Government is on track to make the state’s 95,000 public school teachers the best paid in the country after positive discussions with the teachers’ union.
The NSW Teachers Federation is currently considering an offer made by the Government.
If agreed to, it will see NSW teachers jump from being among the worst paid, to being the best paid in the country, and restore competitiveness, said Minister Car.
“The Minns Labor Government is hopeful this agreement will be made, so NSW teachers can get the pay rise they so urgently deserve,” she said.
“Negotiating an outcome that demonstrates respect to teachers has always been my highest priority.
“In order to tackle the teacher shortage crisis we must restore respect to the teaching profession, so teachers are free to do their jobs without additional stress.
“While there is much more to do, today marks an important step forward as we continue working to rebuild our state’s education system.”
The 4-year agreement will see the starting salary for a NSW teacher increase from $75,791 to $85,000 and the salary for top of the scale teachers increase from $113,042 to $122,100.
All teachers will also benefit from a restructuring of the pay scale, the Minister said.
Wages in the following three years will continue to rise in line with the Government’s wages policy.
“This offer recognises the value of the work that NSW teachers do and was informed by findings of the Gallop Report,” said Ms Car.
The offer will require the agreement of the Teachers Federation Council on Saturday.
