Arabic version: المعلمون في فيكتوريا يقيمون دعوى جماعية بشأن المعاشات غير المدفوعة

Victorian teachers are suing the state’s Department of Education over what they allege are unpaid superannuation payments for tens of thousands of teachers. According to ABC News, the Australian Education Union (AEU) claims that the department failed to pay superannuation on the Salary Loading Allowance from 1995 to 2023.

Lead claimant Jillian Perkins, a teacher preparing for retirement, believes she is owed nearly $10,000 in super and investment earnings. “It’s quite an unfair thing to realise that we’d been underpaid,” she stated. The AEU estimates that the total unpaid contributions could reach around $100 million, with an additional loss of $300 million in investment earnings.

The AEU’s Victorian president, Justin Mullaly, emphasized that the department’s decision to exclude superannuation payments on the Salary Loading Allowance is unlawful. He noted that the Australian Taxation Office has previously ruled that superannuation is payable on this allowance, but the department is currently appealing that decision in a separate court case.

In a related development, the department began making superannuation payments on the allowance in 2023 after seeking clarity on its obligations. However, the AEU’s claim will not be resolved until the court rules on the department’s appeal.

This class action comes at a time when the Victorian government is negotiating significant pay rises for public school staff, with offers reaching up to 32 percent following recent strikes. Despite the potential financial implications, Mullaly stated that the government must fulfill its obligations to pay superannuation. Perkins echoed this sentiment, asserting that it is the employer’s duty to ensure proper contributions are made.