TAFE: two new enterprise agreements certified
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 129 No 1, 16 February, page no. 14
Two new enterprise agreements secured by the QTU’s TAFE Division for educators delivering vocational education and training for Central Queensland University (CQU) and TAFE Queensland have been certified by the Industrial Relations Commission. The TAFE agreement also covers working conditions for higher educators employed by TAFE Queensland.
Central Queensland University Enterprise Agreement
Negotiations for a replacement CQU agreement commenced in March 2021. After consultation had occurred with affected QTU members, the Union agreed to pause negotiations during the uncertainty brought about by COVID-19. Members supported the strategy to pause rather than pursue an alternative campaign of industrial action. The strategy, which relied on the patience and good faith of all parties, subsequently achieved:
- an administrative pay increase of approximately 13 per cent, effective 23 September 2023, resulting in vocational educators receiving increases of between $11,000 and $14,000 per annum
- additional pay increases from 4 June 2022 and 1 Jan 2023 of 4 per cent
- an additional 3 per cent headline increase awarded upon certification
- further three 3 per cent increases over the life of the agreement.
The CQU agreement was certified in the Fair Work Commission by Commissioner Lee on 8 November. It operates from 15 November 2023 and has a nominal expiry date of 1 July 2026.
New VET educator salary rates, effective from the first pay period after commencement of the agreement, are:
Classification | $/fortnight |
VET foundation educator | 2,929.30 |
VET tutor | 3,051.40 |
VET teacher 1 | 3325.90 |
VET teacher 2 | 3,474.10 |
VET teacher 3 | 3,624.40 |
VET teacher 4 | 3,777.70 |
Senior VET teacher 1 | 3,929.80 |
Senior VET teacher 2 | 4,083.60 |
Senior VET teacher 3 | 4,185.40 |
Leading vocational teacher 1 | 4,287.80 |
Leading vocational teacher 2 | 4,389.80 |
Leading vocational teacher 3 | 4,499.60 |
Educational team leader 1 | 4,657.50 |
Educational team leader 2 | 4,750.60 |
Educational team leader 3 | 4,845.70 |
TAFE Queensland
The QTU began developing its EB11 log of claims in August 2022, initially at the meeting of TAFE Council, and then through a listening tour of the state. In February, members participated in an online survey, with the log of claims endorsed by TAFE Council at its meeting in March 2023.
Queensland Government wages policy became a barrier to progressing salary fairness, notably the cost of living adjustment (COLA) payment. TAFE Queensland’s initial offer did not include an upfront COLA payment, but members’ willingness to engage in ongoing protected industrial action, including a planned 24-hour strike, resulted in a revised offer and an upfront COLA, requiring a change to the standard COLA clause as applied to the agreements of state school teachers and other public service employees. State school teachers were not eligible for a COLA payment until the end of the first year of their agreement. Given the decrease in the consumer price index used to calculate the COLA, had the terms of the school teachers’ agreement been applied to TAFE educators, the initial COLA payment would likely have been less than three per cent.
The TAFE Queensland Educators Certified Agreement 2023 was certified in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission by Industrial Commissioner Knight on 4 December, and it has a nominal expiry date of 30 June 2026. Advice from TAFE Queensland is that the three per cent COLA will be paid in the 23 February pay cycle.
The new salary schedule is effective from 1 July 2023. Advice from TAFE Queensland is that back pay to 1 July 2023 will be paid in the 9 February pay cycle.
Classification | $/fortnight |
Foundation educator | 2,331.70 |
Tutor 1 | 2,398.20 |
Tutor 2 | 2,489.80 |
Tutor 3 | 2,585.40 |
Senior tutor 1 | 2,844.00 |
Senior tutor 2 | 2,962.40 |
Teacher 1 | 3,263.50 |
Teacher 2 | 3,406.00 |
Teacher 3 | 3,549.50 |
Teacher 4 | 3,694.10 |
Senior teacher 1 | 3,837.60 |
Senior teacher 2 | 3,982.20 |
Senior teacher 3 | 4,083.00 |
Leading vocational teacher 1 | 4,177.70 |
Leading vocational teacher 2 | 4,276.50 |
Leading vocational teacher 3 | 4,368.50 |
Educational team leader 1 | 4,157.70 |
Educational team leader 2 | 4,255.30 |
Educational team leader 3 | 4,352.10 |
Educational team leader 4 | 4,448.60 |
Associate lecturer 1 | 3,815.30 |
Associate lecturer 2 | 3,964.60 |
Lecturer 1 | 4,063.50 |
Lecturer 2 | 4,162.80 |
Lecturer 3 | 4,261.90 |
Lecturer 4 | 4,364.30 |
Lecturer 5 | 4,519.20 |
Senior lecturer 1 | 4,614.10 |
Senior lecturer 2 | 4,798.60 |