QLD teachers using ‘women’s work’ wage claim to demand pay rise

Male and female state school teachers are paid the same, but other gender factors are behind a push for Queensland teachers to become the highest-paid in Australia.

TEACHERS are using a “women’s work’’ wage claim to demand a 4.5 per cent pay rise this year – with bonuses for working out of hours.

Classroom teachers will pocket up to $5000 a year extra if the Queensland Teachers’ Union wins its pay claim of 4 to 4.5 per cent, to make Queensland state school teachers the highest-paid in Australia.

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It will also demand a double-digit pay rise for principals, who currently earn between $112,656 and $170,428 depending on the size of the school.

QTU president Kevin Bates said state school principals were paid a fraction of private school salaries, which can top $500,000 a year.

He said the union would push for pay rises based on the gender pay gap, as female teachers earned 10 per cent less than male teachers on average.

He said male and female teachers had the same pay rates, but women often missed out on promotions when they took time off to raise children.

“The difference is generally in terms of promotional opportunities,’’ he said.

“There are many more men in higher salaried positions than women, and an impact in term of broken careers and superannuation.’’

Mr Bates said women made up 80 per cent of teachers but just 35 per cent of principals.

He called for affirmative action and flexible work practices to promote more female principal, but said everyone should be hired on merit.

“We are strongly wedded to merit-based appointments,’’ he said.

“But what are the unconscious bias issues standing in the road for people being able to access a merit-based position?’’

Mr Bates said the union would seek a 4-4.5 per cent pay rise for teachers, who now start on a salary of $70,081, and can earn up to $122,000 as lead teachers.

“We want to negotiate a new system of pay and classification for school teachers, and we expect there will be significant changes to what principals are paid,’’ he said. “Our principals are being paid as little as one-fifth of some of the packages in private schools.’’

He said some state high schools had more than 4000 students and 400 staff. Principals were working up to 70 hours a week and had to deal with out-of-hours emergencies, child welfare issues and cyber bullying, and manage technology including students’ mobile phones.

Mr Bates said the union would also seek bonus payments or time off in lieu for teachers and principals who work before or after school.

“Principals are getting called at late hours and on weekends to attend to security issues or burst water pipes,’’ he said.

The union’s wage claim is almost double the Queensland Government’s pay rise cap of 2.5 per cent across the public service and twice the rate of inflation. Education Minister Grace Grace yesterday said enterprise bargaining with teachers was in “its very early stages’’.

Queensland University of Technology masters of teaching students Camilla Jeffrey and Florence Hanna, who aspire to be among the next generation of teachers, said pay didn’t significantly influence their career choice.

“The thought of money impacts most people’s decisions but the positives of the job and the lifestyle definitely outweighs that,” Ms Jeffrey said.