ECTs at NSW Dept of Education preschools included in Premier’s “pay freeze” plans

Early childhood teachers (ECTs) across New South Wales’ Department of Education’s 101 preschools will likely be impacted by the announcement from Premier Gladys Berejikilian that a “pay freeze” will apply to all public sector workers for the next 12 months.

Appearing alongside NSW state treasurer Dominic Perrottet yesterday Ms Berejiklian said that the decision “had not been taken lightly” and although pay levels would be frozen, there would also be no job losses within the public service. 

“The only way NSW will come out of this crisis in a strong position is if we all make sacrifices, and that’s what we’re asking our own workforce to do because we are all in this together” she said. 

It is understood by The Sector that early childhood teachers working for the NSW Department of Education are remunerated based on the standard remuneration structure in accordance with the Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employes) Salaries and Conditions Awards in which annual increases are capped at 2.5 per cent. 

Under the Premier’s plan ECTs will not receive a pay increase this year but increases up to 2.5 per cent would resume next year. 

It is unclear at this stage whether other states and territory ministers will follow NSWs lead and also whether the upcoming Modern Award determinations, in particular the Children Services Award, will be impacted by similar concerns as the fallout from COVID-19 intensifies. 

This year’s Modern Award Annual Wage Review announcement is expected in or around the 1 June 2020.