http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/up-to-80-brisbane-grammar-school-teachers-to-strike-in-attempt-to-garner-35-per-cent-wage-increase/story-fnihsrf2-1227060742665?sv=156719701d312beaa13b6f03f8db9d27&&net_sub_uid=105920473

Not sure if this the the right link, but it's essentially about teachers at a private Brisbane school being unsatisfied with an above CPI wage increase, because they want more.

Perhaps there should be lessons in schools that there is a 'real world' beyond the walls from within where they teach and, many people in that real world are wondering if they are going to have a job, let alone a pay rise. There's just no pleasing some people, no matter what shape our nation is in.

Dear Rehctub,

You're talking about a private school here.
"If you want the best - pay the best," is the
adage that applies.

And, as someone called Brad commented - it seems
amazing that teachers need to strike at a private
school over a quarter of a percent increase in
their salaries.

Unbelievable!

Unbelievable!
Foxy,
yep, that's the way our mentality is heading.

I think teachers deserve everything they can get!
I take my hat off to anyone who can teach these days....

I take my hat off to anyone who can teach these days...
Suseoline,
So do most of us ! Problem is are there enough to strike for a ¼ % ?

Unbelievable! Too right Foxy, this is the lowest pay rise in twenty years, which means they did none of the heavy lifting during the GFC. Truly unbelievable I would suggest.

The restraint shown by workers over recent years is amazing. The 'Prices and Incomes Accord' put in place during the Hawke years has been a true economic and political success. This, despite attacks on workers from the conservative side of politics, the Howard Government with its 'No Workchoices',and despite the often obscene increases the employer class have granted themselves without justification, workers continue to show remarkable wage restraint and continue to cooperate with the modern industrial system that has been so successful for so long.
There are very few protracted industrial disputes in Australia today, lost productivity due to strikes is extremely small. Workers in key industries with muscle, such as oil, transport etc have not exercised that strength to their advantage, when they very well could have, and have shown restraint.
With this particular matter that Butch has highlighted, I would think the workers involved are not known for their radical behavior and I'm sure they would have exhausted all other avenues of negotiation with their belligerent employer before opting for and hour off in protest.
On a somber note, any attempt by Abbott, like his hero Howard, to smash the rights of Australian workers must be resisted at all cost, and hopefully Abbott would have learned the lesson the voters dished out to Howard on industrial matters through the ballot box in 2007.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/30-years-on-accord-deal-a-bitter-time-says-kelty-20130531-2nfes.html

Paul1405, "despite the often obscene increases the employer class have granted themselves without justification"

I hope you are including those federal Greens senators in that.

Yes, my comment also applies to all politicians, but contrary to what you always say, your Greens have few scruples too where their remuneration and benefits are concerned.

Australian politicians compare themselves with the CEOs of private industry, but how many could ever qualify for such as position, let alone be judged for results?

General Comment
Excepting politicians (obviously), pay in real terms has plateaued according to some and spending power will be eroded.

I would agree that teachers generally have more busy work than before, what with reporting requirements and the incessant emails form 'concerned' parents. Maybe if some of the busy work could be cut back, for instance by parents staying out of teachers' faces?

Beach, Greens, Greens, Greens, you are only sore that your fearless leader Jim Saleam from 'The Australia Lunatic Party' scored a lousy 621 voters at the last election and therefore no MP's salary for poor Jim, most likely living off the dole, or your charity, or something, I can't say. Can you enlighten on that score?

<<but how many could ever qualify for such as position, let alone be judged for results?>> I'll give you one name, big pay, terrible results, Alan Joyce CEO QANTAS. On his track record, Joyce wouldn't get into parliament, even in the visitors gallery.

Paul1405,

Easy to see when you are on the defensive.

Lets take the financial year just ended, specifically what has any of the Greens senators produced in the year? Do take your time, they have.

The Greens must be doing a good job. They require so much of your attention on this forum. If they were ineffective then people like you would ignore them, can't say that about The Greens, they have done a lot more in the parliament than your man Jim ever will.

So there is nothing you can tender as evidence of those very well paid, shiny-bottomed Greens senators actually producing anything?

However they do put their hands out for CEO pay, CEO benefits(+) and a super scheme a CEO would give his eye teeth for.

So the answer is that Greens senators produce nil, nada, none, nothing. Not unexpected.

The 'Prices and Incomes Accord' put in place during the Hawke years has been a true economic and political success.
Paul1405,
Is this one of your Green Dreams again ? The left side of politics has done nothing, it was the GST that the Left so vehemmently opposed that pulled Australia out of the crap. Get this into your memory Bank, the Left does not produce revenue, it gobbles up revenue. The Right is the revenue maker & the Left the revenue taker. If you disagree with that then you disagree with reality.
Australian teachers should be ashamed to ask for more pay whilst they're unable to show progress in education. The problem is that in order to feel shame you need to have decency & a commitment to responsibility. Education should be about passing on knowledge not passing on tricks to exploit loopholes to build up undeserved Super.

So Paul, I woukd be right to assume that your position is that workers are entitled to a pay increase, regardless of their productivity, or the state of the nations finances. Yea right!

Firstly, many of the wages and conditions enjoyed today are from conditions secured during a huge mining boom, whereby a trained monkey could have secured a job, simply because the balance of supply V demand was such that the damand for labor was huge.

Secondly, surely in a democratic society, it's only fair that when the demand for labor dies off, that the conditions secured from strong times can be adjusted to suit poor times, which is what we have today"

It's rather ironic that almost every thing we buy and sell is allowed to fluctuate in price, except for wages. Of cause the end result for many will be lost jobs, but unionists just can't see that.

So back to the subject at hand, this pay rise is the lowest this school has offered in twenty years and is above the CPI at a time where many out there are happy just to have a job.

So in reality, given the times we face, I see it as pure greed because these workers have gone for the past twenty years, which included the period during the GFC, receiving pay rises all the way along.

Teachers have nothing to be proud of as Australia's education standards
are declining compared to other countries.
Of course it won't be the teachers fault will it ?
Could it be, all that trendy stuff they are teaching, they actually believe it themselves ?

Everyone is in for a big shock in the next few years, including pensioners.

Everyone is in for a big shock in the next few years, including pensioners.
Bazz,
Unfortunately you're right ! Thanks to the Lefties our future is in real jeopardy.

Individual, did you hear about the teacher who ran a pageant of the
arrival of the first fleet lead by Captain Cook ?

When pointed out to the teacher that Captain Cook had been dead for
many years at that time she answered "But the children took part".
Just like spelling and grammar is not important, so historical fact is not important.

As a friend often says "Incompetence is everywhere, no one cares !".

<<So Paul, I woukd be right to assume that your position is that workers are entitled to a pay increase, regardless of their productivity, or the state of the nations finances. Yea right!>>

Butch I do believe the system which has been built up over years, should not be presented so simplistically as you present the above. Workplace agreements and awards that are generally in place require a lot of negotiation and agreement before they are implemented. Wages are very much controlled in Australia. to return to the bad old days where the law of the jungle applied would be counterproductive, on wages alone there would be a few winners and a lot of losers. I am happy with the system as it now applies.

Wages are very much controlled in Australia
Paul1405,
Yes but quite unfairly. Those who do the least get the most i.e. bureaucrats whereas those who actually work i.e. factory workers etc. get sfa. They don't get 1 hour smoko with coffee & biscuits supplied by the taxpayer. Can do their internet business at taxpayers expense. Get taxpayer topped up Super. The list is too long for here.
I work under a manager who costs the taxpayer at least half a million a year & that's a conservative figure yet he produces nothing but stuff-ups & mismanages everything except his own benefits. when someone else tries to get a little entitlement he pulls out every legislation to stop it. Wage control is ok but in Australia it is abused savagely.

Indi, I would not disagree with what you say about your particular case. I too have had long experience with Australian industry, both private and public and the 'managerial class' I have to say the number of really good managers I've come across, who were worth their salt, I could count on the one hand. There have been numerous studies to my knowledge which have shown Australian workers to be some of the best in the world, when it comes to skills and ability, but the same studies have found many of our managers to be sadly lacking.
Indi I have never told you this before, but you remind me of my old man, your national service idea is not new, I used to hear it from him 40 years ago, he used to call it 'The Land Army'. The difference is he was dyed in the wool old time labor, a 'Lang man' but very conservative.