AIS bargaining update
The AIS has advised that bargaining for teachers and support staff in AIS schools will not commence before mid to late August. The AIS is continuing to consult with member schools concerning pay rises for 2021 and beyond. The AIS says the uncertainty about the impact of COVID on the collection of school fees in some schools and recent changes in federal funding have contributed to the delay. Another factor causing delay is the state government's attempt to block pay rises for NSW public servants from July 2020. If this attempt is successful, it will have a flow on effect on pay rises for teachers in NSW government schools in 2022. This may also reduce the pay increases that AIS schools are prepared to offer for 2022. Teachers and support staff in AIS schools received pay rises of 2.5% in February 2020 under the current enterprise agreements so the delay is not affecting pay rises for this year.
A small number of Christian schools (including those in the Pacific group) represented by the AIS may commence bargaining for teachers before August. Nine Christian schools (including the Pacific group) represented by AIS are also about to circulate a vote on an enterprise agreement for support staff (who have not received any pay rise in 2020). The union will be writing directly to these members urging them to Vote Yes.