Background
Over the past year, the PSA and the Department of Education (DOE) have been in discussions before the Industrial Relations Commission to create an award concerning the employment conditions and salaries of school psychologists.
We have managed to narrow the issues in dispute, but still do not agree on whether the award should entitle a School Psychologist to commence at bands 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 based on previous experience and/or the conditions that must be met for salary progression. Both the PSA and the DOE have filed award applications to reflect our respective positions and these applications will both be arbitrated in the Commission on 8 March 2023.
Proposal
The Department’s award application includes salary increases to School Psychologists to match those given to teachers and other employees covered by the Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award.
The increases are as follows:
- 0.25 per cent increase backdated to 1 July 2022.
- 3 per cent increase (including a 0.47 per cent increase in super guarantee) from 1 January 2023.
Please note these increases are on top of the 2.04 per cent increase from 1 January 2022.
Pay-rises by Consent
We are aware that these pay increases exceed the limit that the Industrial Relations Commission can award in arbitrated proceedings under the Government’s Wages Cap, because the limit is presently 3 per cent per annum for FY 2022-23. In practical terms, the Commission can only award these increases if it is by consent. Such is the unfairness of the Wages Cap and why it needs to be repealed!
Member Vote
PSA (Consultation) rule 25 provides that we put any offer received, with regard to salaries payable, to those members affected. Accordingly, we want to confirm that our School Psychologist members are in favour of the wage increases that the Department is proposing OR, if PSA members do not confirm our support in favour of these wage increases.
PLEASE VOTE HERE
This vote will be open until Thursday, 15 December 2022. Vote now!