Workers Online : : 2000 - Issue 68 : Boston Bags Bonus While Teachers Wait on Back-Pay


Issue No 68		25 August 2000

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Boston Bags Bonus While Teachers Wait on Back-Pay

Dr Ken Boston the Director-General who presided over 329 days of crisis in education during the 1999-2000 teachers dispute has just received a $20,000 bonus from the Government. Meanwhile casual teachers are still waiting for their pay rise and other teachers are tapping their fingers waiting for their back pay - all agreed to two months ago.

In State Parliament, under questioning from the state opposition, it was revealed that the Director-General, Dr Ken Boston, received a $20,000 performance bonus on top of his large Public Service salary last year, despite the long-running pay dispute with teachers.

Dr Boston is employed on the highest senior executive pay scale, with a salary of between $247,980 and $305,955 a year.

Teachers Fed General Secretary, John Hennessy, says Boston has lost the professional and industrial confidence of teachers. "If he was truly deserving of a bonus and he was truly the educational leader of this State then this would not be happening," he says.

'There is no question he caused the dispute by his publication on the Internet of the award application without consulting anyone.'

'The Government has managed to pay him this money without difficulty but they can't find the money to pay casuals that they agreed to two months ago. Most of those casuals would live on less than Boston's bonus.'

'Catholic employers paid their teachers in the next pay period within two weeks. This 'successful' Director-General can't pay it after two months. It's just another insult to teachers.'

The Education Minister, Mr Aquilina, defended the decision, saying the director-general of the Department of Education was heading the third-largest education system in the world,

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Issue 68 contents

Interview: New Unionist
Britain's Trade Union Congress secretary John Monks on life under Blair and why the future of unionism could well rest in Europe.

History: The Victims of Whiggery
George Loveless, the leader of the rural workers who became the Tolpuddle Martyrs, recorded his ideals and experiences in a pamphlet that brings his story to life.

Economics: The Final Station
Corporatisation was first introduced into Australia by the former Greiner Coalition government. What is 'corporatisation' and who should we hold to account under its prescriptions?

International: Massive Union Win in American Telecom
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) announced on Thursday a settlement with Verizon Communications ending a fifteen day strike by 87,000 telephone workers from Maine to Virginia.

Unions: A Vital Community Service
What keeps the engine of the Australian economy running? Manufacturing productivity, the stock market, exports? Try child care.

Satire: Putin copies Clinton: dead seamen stains reputation
MOSCOW, Tuesday: Russian naval authorities today faced staunch criticism, and the anger of a nation gripped by tragedy, as they conceded that all 118 Russian submariners trapped in the nuclear submarine, the Kursk, had died.

Review: Blow Up The Pokies
Whether it arouses public debate about Gambling is best left to the public but Peter Zangarri thinks Tim Freedman is on a winner with the Whitlam's latest CD.

» Public Sector Workers Win $1.50 An Hour Olympic Allowance

» Olympic Vendors Cream Boss

» Child Care Workers Pick Up 10% Pay rise

» Boston Bags Bonus While Teachers Wait on Back-Pay

» Super Saga

» Homecare Workers Hit Streets

» CPSU Logs On Internet Providers

» 1 Million Reasons to Belong to a Union

» City Rail Security Guards Win Olympic Bonus

» Making a Difference in ICANN Elections

» Sydney Hotel Stoppages Throughout Next Week

» Scientists Protest IT Outsourcing

» Dealing With Workplace Deaths