New Government Maternity leave sheme- what does it mean for teachers

[AliBaby]

Does anyone know what teachers will be entitled to if the new 18week paid maternity leave scheme goes ahead?

In NSW we already get 14weeks paid so would we still get this plus the 18weeks from the government?

It probably wont go ahead but it would be nice to know what these changes actually mean.

[~Kim~]

Ali from what I read in another articale posted on here, yes everyone is entitled to it along with whatever they currently are entitled to. HOWEVER the catch was that it had to be taken within 6 months of the child being born.
I work for a govt dept too and we get the same. We are entitled to take our 14 weeks at half pay stretching it out to 28 weeks. I doubt any govt dept will let you take the govt offerings before theirs, so you will effectivley ony get 2 weeks of one or the other.

[mrsmac]

Teachers can do that too Kim so I doubt we will really gain much if the new rules come in. We are lucky in that we already have good mat leave, I have a friend who works for a local council who got NONE.

[DisGirl]

Our 26 weeks of paid maternity leave was negotiated in our Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. I daresay that if this proposal goes ahead, the unions will push for the additional 18 weeks leave on top of what we already get. From what I heard on the radio yesterday though, it'll be up to each organisation as to what they want to do, or what is negotiated, so you could end up with 'only' the 18 weeks.

[BLBG]

Wow, - I didn't realise that it 'will' be paid as well as the current agreement that your workplace has...

Fingers crossed.

When is it supposed to be going through? February?

[fionas]

From what I've read, it means everyone will now get 18 weeks paid maternity leave at minimum wage which is about $540 a week which is paid by the government (actually your employer pays you but then THEY claim it back from the government). That's on top of what your employer currently offers. The employer also has to pay your super for those 18 weeks.

SO the way I see it is this ... it probably means that if your employer currently offers paid maternity leave it will probably be back on the table at the next EBA. They'll argue that their employees are getting an extra $500 a week from the government and they've been slugged with paying super too.

Personally, I don't think we should be able to double dip. It means I'll be getting 13 weeks paid maternity leave PLUS 18 weeks paid by the government.

Though I could have that all wrong and maybe the government only tops up the difference between what your employer pays and the 18 week time. Which would mean my employer stops paying at 13 weeks and then the government payment kicks in for another 5 weeks. But that's really now what it sounded like to me.

OK, I think I've spread enough confusion for one day!

[mrsmac]

Our 26 weeks of paid maternity leave was negotiated in our Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. I daresay that if this proposal goes ahead, the unions will push for the additional 18 weeks leave on top of what we already get. From what I heard on the radio yesterday though, it'll be up to each organisation as to what they want to do, or what is negotiated, so you could end up with 'only' the 18 weeks.

Wow where do you teach to get 26 weeks paid leave??? I want that job LOL

[BLBG]

So when is it going to happen? (crosses fingers)
My mat leave will be starting late Jan, - will I get this if it comes in in Feb?

[AliBaby]

I am starting my mat leave First week fo Feb so am hoping for whatever the best outcome is. Hopefully they keep the teachers 14weeks paid as well otherwise we are worse off becaue they are getting rid of the $5000 baby bonus.
I am taking the 14weeks as 28weeks half pay instead, so if I am getting the extra $500 a week (or whatever it is from the government) at the same time then that will be wonderful.

Fiona- I am confused about what you said :sorry: I hope it doesnt mean what you said. They really need to put a proper outline out there. I might ring the Dept of Education and see what they say as well.

[Pandora]

According to everything I've read, the 18 weeks paid leave is in addition to any other paid leave your employer provides, and in the current proposal, your employer has to pay the guaranteed superannuation contribution whilst you are on the 18weeks paid mat leave as well.

[AliBaby]

whats the bet then that this does not get passed until after I go on maternity leave! That would be my luck!

[Pandora]

me too Ali. Still I'll be more encouraged to have a next time knowing i can afford not to be at work, we get no paid leave at my job and earning 70% of the family income its just not going to happen again otherwise.

[AliBaby]

It is a fantastic scheme and I would think that whether or not I was pregnant or not. It is important that mums are allowed to stay at home with their babies and I will be sad to go back to work when I have to.
I earn 70% of the income as well as my partner has his own mechanic business and we dont earn alot from that as so much goes into the business. He also doesnt get holiday or sick pay because then there is no one to do the work. We just have to close shop. If we waited until we could afford kids we would be waiting forever.

[sakoon]

anyone found out any more information about this? im due in march, hope i get it

[Muppity]

It is only a proposal at this stage.

Realistically there won't be anything more said officially about this until budget time next year (about mid-March) and anything that they do will come into effect 1 July next year at the earliest but it is likely that it will take much longer than that to get it all sorted out (and work out how to pay for it - specially after they are spending so much on the stimulus package now)

So people who are due before July next year are very unlikely to get anything from this one (but will still get the $5000 if they are entitled to it)

[mrsmac]

It will be interesting to see if the NSW DET changes stuff with regards to mat leave in this lot of pay negotiations.