We are the members, and together .....

We are the members, and together ... we are strong.
The only claim we’d like to make ... is to see ... justice done.
We paid our union dues and we rallied for fair pay
It is teachers at the coal-face, that executive’s betrayed.

We are teachers - united, and we don’t believe their spin.
The fact the union’s pushing it is the real bloody sin
What they need to recognise is what we really want.
Is a fair go for ALL teachers and ... security for jobs.

Come along, and tell the union.
Stand together, vote NO one and all.
We're after fair pay, and a real say.
Members united, together for the cause.
Teachers united, together for the cause.

We're a powerful collective, and it needs to be said.
it’s not right for unions and governments to share the one bed
No ambit claims or unfair aims –this ones a dud and you knew it
Its time to renegotiate - SO DO IT MARY BLUETT!

For a graduate from uni ... there’d be somewhat more.
But it’s not just them but EVERYONE that we’ve been fighting for
We've had enough, we're voting NO ... together hand in hand.
Education revolution ... for the children of our land.

Come along, and tell the union.
Stand together, vote NO one and all.
We're after fair pay, and a real say.
Members united, together for the cause.
Teachers united, together for the cause.

Lyrics readapted by Lisa Shukroon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrhmGhaDkdo&feature=related

We are the teachers

You spin me right round....

Many of us not only took strike action but attended rallies - I think we should all make the symbolic gesture of going to the AEU ratification meeting to voice our "NO" loud and clear - even if we can't vote. I might even have a go at re-penning some sing-alongs. We all know how stirring they were at the rallies - unfortunately the only lyrics that comes to mind for our esteemed executive is "you Spin me right round"...
Cheers,
Lisa

Vote No and continue the campaign.

Why did AEU Council call off the most powerful weapon in our campaign (NAPLAN stopworks) before the deal had even been reported to members?

Teachers Alliance www.teachers-alliance.org

We have 85% of the public on our side, supporting our bid for a just and equitable wage deal and improved learning and teaching conditions for their children. They also understand the toll that contracts exact on individual teachers and school communities. We have joined up thousands of members and raised the political consciousness of thousands more. Never have we been in such an excellent position to wage a successful campaign. Mary Bluett argues that voting ‘NO’ will mean that we go back to square 1 and lose public support and that to restart the campaign will be difficult. The logic of this argument is that once the AEU Council recommends any agreement for ratification, the membership has no choice but to accept it. Do Mary Bluett and her team not value the input of the members and regard the ratification process as a charade? We clearly need a different process of ratification. We need one that allows members to make the decision about calling off any industrial action and whether or not to reject or accept a deal. CONTINUE THE CAMPAIGN! When it is explained to the public that the deal was a fraud and unjust and there were no improvements on class sizes, they will continue to support us.

____________________________________________________________________________Please copy this leaflet and distribute it to members at your school and other schools.

Download this leaflet from our web site and email to your colleagues.

Contact us at teachersalliance@hotmail.com

For more information go to our website www.teachers-alliance.org

Apples again....

Translation of salary rises in the proposed new agreement taking account of movements in the CPI.

Old agreement	New-agreement	May 11 2208 rise	Jan 2009	Jan 2010	Jan 2011	Net % movement by 2011 #
E3a 66,267	E4 75,500	13.6	2.9%	2.9%	2.9%	rise of 5.3
E3 65,414	E3 68,619	4.9	2.9%	2.9%	2.9%	fall of 3.4
E2 63,447	E2 66,556	4.9	2.9%	2.9%	2.9%	fall of 3.4
E1 61,539	E1 64,554	4.9	2.9%	2.9%	2.9%	fall of 3.4
A5 59,401	A5 62,312	4.9	2.9%	2.9%	2.9%	fall of 3.4
A4 57,755	A4 60,585	4.9	2.9%	2.9%	2.9%	fall of 3.4
A3 56,154	A3 58,906	4.9	2.9%	2.9%	2.9%	fall of 3.4
A2 54,598	A2 57,273	4.9	2.9%	2.9%	2.9%	fall of 3.4
A1 53,084	A1 55,686	4.9	2.9%	2.9%	2.9%	fall of 3.4
G4 50,184	G2 52,643	4.9	2.9%	2.9%	2.9%	fall of 3.4
G3 48,793	G1 51,184	4.5	2.9%	2.9%	2.9%	fall of 3.8
G2 47,441
G1 46,127		11.0 *1	2.9%	2.9%	2.9%	rise of 2.7

# This estimate aims to differentiate between ‘money’ and ‘real’ wages. That is, the changes in salaries after movements in the CPI have been taken account of.

In this case they are the following: (1) Our last pay rise was in October 2006 and the CPI has risen by about 5% since. Therefore we needed to gain 5% to put us back in the position we were 18 months ago. (2) Currently inflation is running at slightly over 4% p.a. While it if difficult to estimate future CPI rises, it is likely that the combined rises over the three years duration of this agreement will be about 12%. Further increases in salaries of this magnitude will be necessary to maintain real wages.

Hence calculation for the top of the scale is: rises 13.6 + 2.9 +2.9 + 2.9 = 22.3% inflationary effects 5 + 12 = 17%. Net rise in real wages 5.3%

It is important to note that teachers can make no further pay claims for the duration of this proposed agreement.

BK May 19 2008

1 This classification will no longer exist and teachers will begin on the new G1 which equates with an 11% pay rise.

The pay rise you may not have heard about!

The restructure to the incremental scale and the removal of the bottom two levels has resulted in an interesting situation. Any teacher who gains a new appointment will move to the appropriate increment point based on their years of service. For example a teacher who is currently a G4 earning $50,184 now on a contract would move in this agreement to G2 being $52.643 + $1,000. However when they get a new contract or are appointed to an advertised on-going vacancy in the following year they would translate on appointment to A2. That means their salary will be $58,825 in January 09! This also includes teachers on a contract who are translated to ongoing positions under the new agreement!

James Rankin