Teacher protest over LNP Gonski stance

HUNDREDS of teachers are expected to rally outside State Parliament this afternoon over the LNP's Gonski stance and its new teacher reform, with industrial action still being considered.

Queensland Teachers' Union president Kevin Bates said members were angry at the State Government for refusing to listen to their views over a number of issues including staffing changes which have led to fewer teachers per student in state schools.

He said teachers were particularly upset over the Government's new "Great Teachers = Great Results" plan and its refusal to listen over the importance of signing up to Gonski reforms.

The $535 million "Great Teachers = Great Results" plan has infuriated many teachers, who are upset over the use of performance bonuses and the reform being used instead of the Gonski-inspired National Plan for School Improvement, which would see more money flowing into schools with disadvantaged students.

"What teachers and principals are . . . saying to us, is that this is not about putting money into their pockets, this should be about putting the resources into schools to allow them to be able to do their job in a way that is going to deliver better outcomes," Mr Bates said.

"What pay incentives in this form don't do is actually provide a motivation for teachers who are highly intrinsically motivated."

He said the rally would also put pressure on the State Government to "genuinely negotiate" on the NPSI at Friday's Council of Australian Governments meeting.

The QTU has called on the Federal Government to commit to funding the NPSI regardless of the State Government's stance.

But federal School Education Minister Peter Garrett has said if Queensland does not sign on to the national plan it will stay under the current model, with students missing out on an extra $1 billion as a result.

Yesterday the QTU released a statement saying it rejected the Federal Government's decision to fund the Gonski reforms by taking money from universities and called on Commonwealth to "urgently reconsider this approach".

Today's rally will be held outside Parliament House from 5pm to 6pm.

Mr Bates said he expected hundreds of teachers to turn up, with the potential for around 1000 attending.

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Teacher feud drags on, despite pay rise

Teachers rally for better pay and conditions. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: Herald Sun

TALKS in the bitter teachers' pay dispute are continuing today, despite details emerging of a generous wage boost.

The Australian Education Union this morning confirmed the discussions for a new agreement were still going.

Victorian president Meredith Peace will address the media at 3.30pm.

A deal had been  expected to be announced as early as today, after details emerged of a generous wage boost.

After a fight stretching more than two years, educators are tipped to have won a pay rise of up to 18 per cent.

But both parties maintained a deal hadn't been done, with talks continuing.

Principals, teachers and support staff have reportedly secured pay rises of up to 17 and 18 per cent over four years, or more than 4 per cent a year.

It was expected the increases would start with a 2 per cent rise this month, followed by twice-yearly instalments thereafter.

A $1000 sign-on bonus was among other key components.

The deal would be a win for the state's public school educators, who have fought a relentless war for better pay and conditions since former premier Ted Baillieu, before the last election, promised to make them the nation's best-paid.

Despite last night's apparent leaking of an agreement, both parties told the Herald Sun none had been reached.

Ashley Gardiner, spokesman for Teaching Profession Minister Peter Hall, said discussions were going well, but refused to comment on specifics.

Premier Denis Napthine provided a circuit-breaker in the industrial stalemate last month when he took performance pay -- a key sticking point -- off the negotiating table.

The Australian Education Union in November reduced its pay claim to 12.6 per cent over three years, after initially demanding a 30 per cent increase.

The Government had refused to budge from its offer of 2.5 per cent a year plus performance pay.

Any agreement must be accepted by the union's primary and secondary council, and ratified by members before it can be finalised.

The process could take up to three weeks.

Industrial action, including a controversial ban on teacher overtime that forced the cancellation of school camps and other activities, remains suspended.

wes.hosking@news.com.au

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