Backpay success for teacher
The IEU has assisted a teacher in a Catholic independent school retrieve a salary underpayment of $23,517, with $2144 in unpaid superannuation.
Upon changing schools, the teacher noticed she was on a higher salary, and wondered why she had not received that salary at her previous school.
With the Union’s assistance she realised her previous teaching experience had not been properly taken into account by the previous school.
When the union wrote to the school its first response was to blame the member, “never brought any pay inconsistencies to our attention”.
The school needed much encouragement from the union, but agreed to the backpay eventually.
Member’s money recovered: $31,968
A western suburbs teacher recently received $31,968 in unpaid wages plus $3012 in unpaid superannuation.
On engagement as a full time teacher in March 2013 (the member’s first teaching assignment after graduation) the school was provided with a copy of the member’s five year trained qualifications.
However, the member was classified as four year trained with pay starting at a level below the one that should have applied. Step increments were also not paid when due, and were mostly paid around nine months late.
Luckily, the union was approached and was able to rectify the misunderstanding, and retrieve the backpay for the member.
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First IEU President for South Coast Labour Council
Congratulations are in order for IEU Organiser and newly elected President of the South Coast Labour Council, Tina Smith.
Tina is the first President of the SCLC to come from the IEU in the Council’s 91 year history!
Tina has been part of an active and vocal IEU contingent in numerous campaigns and events in #Uniontown (Wollongong). Alongside her new team of Assistant Secretaries, Mick Cross from the MUA and Duncan McDonald from the Teachers’ Federation, we are sure she will continue to do fantastic work representing workers in her new role.