QTU Members' newsflash No. 6-23, 22 August 2023 | Open PDF
TO: QTU MEMBERS
Member campaigning pays off: cost of living adjustment (COLA) paid this week
Thanks to our QTU members, eligible teachers and school leaders would today have received a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) payment.
Without member participation in our EB10 campaign for a real change to the state government’s public sector wages policy (which prior to last year was locked at increases of no more than 2.5 per cent a year), this payment and the 4 per cent salary increase received on 1 July would not have been possible.
Thank you to those members who supported our campaign by writing letters, attending their branch meetings, lobbying their local Member of Parliament, and standing in solidarity with the broader statewide union movement.
There is still work to be done to ensure our TAFE educators can receive pay parity with state school teachers, including the provision for a COLA in their certified agreement.
But today we celebrate our members and their commitment to collective action, which has brought about a tangible step towards addressing cost of living pressures.
Who is eligible?
In accordance with clause 6.2.3 of the Department of Education State School Teachers' Certified Agreement 2022, the COLA payment is due to be paid to eligible teachers.
An eligible employee is defined in the Agreement under clause 6.2.2.2:
An employee is an eligible employee if they performed work under this Agreement during a relevant agreement year and they are covered by this Agreement on the relevant calculation date for the associated COLA payment.
The calculation date for the COLA payment in year 1 is 30 June 2023.
This means all teachers and leaders, including supply and contract teachers, who worked under the Agreement with the DoE during the Agreement year and were employed on the 30 June 2023 will be eligible to receive the COLA payment.
How much is the COLA payment?
For the first year of the Agreement (i.e., 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023) the COLA percentage payment is 3 per cent of base wages. Allowances are not included in the calculation. Some approximate (gross) COLA payments have been calculated below:
Employee type |
Base wage as at 1/7/22 |
COLA payment (approximate before tax) |
Beginning teacher (year 1) |
$78,490 p.a. |
$2,354.70 |
Classroom teacher (year 5) |
$94,015 p.a. |
$2,820.45 |
Experienced senior teacher |
$113,118 p.a. |
$3,393.54 |
Stream 1 head of department/program |
$131,712 p.a. |
$3,951.36 |
Stream 2 deputy principal |
$146,596 p.a. |
$4,397.88 |
Stream 3 principal |
$183,423 p.a. |
$5,502.69 |
Need more information?
For further information and answers to frequently asked questions, visit the Department of Education’s Knowledge Base article. (qldqed.service-now.com/sco?id=kb_article&sysparm_article=KBA0035333) Please note you will require your OnePortal login for this.
The Payroll email for your region (intranet.qed.qld.gov.au/Services/HumanResources/payrollhr/payrollallowancessuper/Pages/contacts.aspx) can be found here.
Payroll Phone Number: 1300 368 197
Visit the www.qtu.asn.au/eb10 information page for updates.
Regional attraction and retention payment extended
On 27 June, an initial regional attraction and retention payment of $900 was made to teachers working in 53 eligible TR2 and TR3 schools, on the basis of criteria negotiated by the QTU.
The QTU argued that the payment should be extended to all employees covered by the State School Teachers’ Certified Agreement 2022, as these employees are also equally difficult to attract and retain at those locations. The QTU lodged a dispute, and last Friday was advised that the department has agreed to pay the $900 to all classified teachers. This is a significant win for members in these locations.
The $900 will be paid to heads of program, deputy principals and principals in their fortnightly pay on 5 September, back paid from 1 January. Future payments will be made for the duration of the agreement.
This is just another example of the QTU working for and winning for members.
Solidarity with IEUA QNT members
The QTU expresses its solidarity and support for the 4,000 teachers and support staff in 106 Queensland Catholic schools who will strike tomorrow for better pay and working conditions.
QTU members stand with the members of the Independent Education Union in their quest for an offer that reflects the value of our profession.
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Kate Ruttiman
General Secretary
Authorised by Kate Ruttiman, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers' Union
21 Graham Street, Milton, QLD, Australia, 4064