St Peter’s College taken to Fair Work Commission as staff demand wage rise, St Peter’s Woodlands and Walford also reject increase

Already under fire from staff over a controversial senior teaching appointment, St Peter’s College is now embroiled in a wage dispute that’s also hit two other private schools.

St Peter's College at Hackney – with headmaster Tim Browning, inset – is headed to the Fair Work Commission over a pay rise dispute with staff.

A prestigious Anglican school has become embroiled in a wage dispute as staff remain angry with the appointment of a former rowing coach to a senior teaching position.

The Independent Education Union has taken St Peter’s College to the Fair Work Commission over the breakdown of enterprise bargaining negotiations.

Walford Anglican School for Girls is also in a wage dispute with staff.

State secretary Glen Seidel said talks at the Hackney all-boys’ R-12 school had “reached an impasse”, with staff voting to reject a 2 per cent wage increase.

Mr Seidel also said staff at St Peter’s Woodlands at Glenelg and Walford Anglican School for Girls had “overwhelmingly rejected proposed agreements”.

“Staff in independent schools are becoming increasingly assertive in rejecting low-ball wage offers of 2 per cent or less,” he said.

“Management tried their luck in putting out a document, which had not been agreed at the table and ended up with egg on their face when they were so solidly rejected.”

Mr Seidel said schools had been “understandably nervous” about agreeing to large wage increases during the uncertainty of Covid and low inflation.

“Those times are behind us now,” he said. “We have to break this 2 per cent mentality in our schools.

“With inflation running at 8 per cent, 2 per cent just won’t cut it.”

Mr Seidel said government funding for independent schools had increased by 3.5 per cent during the pandemic to offset CPI increases, with wages the largest cost for schools.

“It is time to spend the funding on what it was intended for,” he said.

“Our members cannot be relied upon to subsidise the running of schools through salary shortfalls.”

The collapse of the wage negotiations at St Peter’s College comes two weeks after headmaster Tim Browning announced its sports director, Barnaby Eaton, as acting head of senior school.

Mr Eaton joined St Peter’s in 2018 after spending a decade in Queensland as a rowing coach at several private schools and with Rowing Australia.

Rowing coach Barnaby Eaton has been appointed as acting head of senior school. Picture: Supplied

St Peter's College headmaster Tim Browning.

Staff expressed disquiet at the appointment, as the position was normally held by a senior teacher with knowledge of the curriculums and pedagogy.

In an email to parents after the appointment was reported by The Advertiser, Mr Browning said Mr Eaton would be responsible for “management of our pastoral care, outdoor education and co-curricular programs”.

“Our academic deputy Mr Nick Carter will step into the acting deputy headmaster role while leading our teaching and learning and staffing,” he said.

A St Peter’s College spokesperson said the school was ”looking forward to the opportunity to attempt to resolve our enterprise bargaining negotiations with the assistance of the Fair Work Commissioner”.

“The school has been bargaining in good faith with employee representatives and had not been notified otherwise,” she said.

The matters had been listed for a two-day conciliation conference from November 24.