New EBA would backpay Territory teachers from October 2021

Teachers could receive more than $7m in backpay if they vote yes to a new EBA. Find out what the latest deal includes.

Territory teachers could be backpaid more than $7m if they vote yes for a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

The latest Enterprise Bargaining Agreement the NT government has put on the table would back pay a 3 per cent pay rise from October 11 last year and this year, and promises a further 3 per cent to be delivered on October 11, 2023.

Teachers would be backpaid about $7.3m for the October 11 2021 to June 30 2022 period.

There would be further back payments for the current financial year, from 1 July 2022 to when the new Agreement commences.

Early childhood, primary, middle school, secondary school, and vocational education teachers are all among the NT’s hardest jobs to fill.

There are currently 74 teacher vacancies and 18 principal vacancies for 2023.

The EBA would also include an additional hour of non-contact time per week for graduate teachers, an additional pupil-free day on the last day of term four each year from 2023, and up to five hours of corresponding non-contact time per semester for graduate teachers’ mentors where possible.

Northern Territory Principals’ Association president Robyn Thorpe said she was pleased with the offer on the table.

“Principals certainly want to be able to attract and retain the best teachers across Australia to the Northern Territory,” she said.

“I think the recruitment issues are quite complex, they are national.

“We really welcome the investigation into teacher workload because we know that that has been increasing the complex problem for years.”

Ms Thorpe said it was important that every teacher voted on the EBA, not just union members.

Education Minister Eva Lawler said the EBA would give hardworking educators a resolution and certainty in their roles.

“I absolutely encourage every teacher who hasn’t already, to read the bulletin and make sure they have the latest facts and importantly, have their say in the ballot,” she said.

“Fewer than half the teachers voted last time and I’d like to see a much higher participation rate.”

Voting for the EBA opened on Thursday until 2pm on December 12.

Opposition education spokeswoman Jo Hersey said she had concerns about the ballot’s extended deadline.

“Teachers in the Territory have already decided if they’re staying or going at the end of term two,” she said.

“This should have been done months ago to show our teachers they’re a valuable and critical part of our community.

“The drain on our teachers has been widely felt and to push the uncertainty into the Christmas holidays is just opening the door to empty classrooms in the New Year.”

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