Black Friday For State Workers

Black Friday For State Workers

“The rushing through yesterday of the Remuneration Authority Act by MPs has increased the resolve of State teachers for pay rates linked to their bosses,” Martin Cooney, spokesperson for the September 20 group said today. “Teachers are seeking a link of 75% of a backbench MP’s salary and basic allowances to the top of the basic scale rate.”

“State workers in general are sick of their bosses continually having their pay and allowances increased while these same MPs preach salary ‘moderation’ for workers. This time last year it was the pay increases for MPs that inflamed the secondary teachers’ dispute when their Union leadership had just been offered a lower than inflation increase.”

“Nobody is fooled by the Orwellian device of simply changing the name of the ‘Higher Salaries’ Commission to the ‘Remuneration’ Authority. The resemblance to the gold plated superannuation scheme for MPs is also noted by workers,” said Mr Cooney.

“The Auditor General last year called for an independent body to set for MPs on the basis of clearly articulated principles, all remuneration and expenses to be reimbursed” said Mr Cooney. “That disappeared overnight and MPs will now set their own expenses again.”

“Teachers want their representatives to link their pay to 75% of that of MPs – currently round $93,000 for a backbench MP,” said Mr Cooney. “That represents a TBS of about $70,000 for teachers – slightly more than what they can earn overseas. Importantly this would also apply to all teachers, irrespective of having a degree or not, as for MPs.”

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