Yesterday on social media site X, the union giant said he’s forever indebted to the Federation’s membership.
“Whatever we have gained, we’ve gained together, he posted.
“Stay strong, stay safe, stay union!”
Gavrielatos assumed the presidency of the Federation from predecessor Maurie Mulheron four years ago, and among his many achievements, commissioned independent inquiry Valuing the Teaching Profession, helmed by former WA premier Dr Geoff Gallop, Dr Tricia Kavanagh and Patrick Lee.
After conducting public hearings across NSW and gathering expert evidence, the inquiry found unmanageable workloads, uncompetitive salaries and insecure employment had combined to create a teacher shortage crisis in NSW public education.
This created the evidence base for a significant boost to teacher salaries to end the shortage.
Gavrielatos also oversaw a powerful industrial and political campaign, More Than Thanks, which eventually broke the wages cap.
In the 18 months leading up to the NSW state election, teachers took three separate days of strike action and made their opposition to wage suppression a key election issue, with a presence at more than 325 booths at the state election and ongoing high visibility campaigning in every corner of the state.
Following the election, Gavrielatos negotiated the historic salaries deal between the Teachers Federation and the Minns Government, which increased both starting and top of scale salaries for NSW teachers by more than $9000, along with major improvements across the pay scale.
“Angelo Gavrielatos has made a profound and tangible improvement to the teaching profession,” incoming president, Henry Rajendra said in a statement.
“The campaign run by the union during Angelo’s presidency was essential to creating a new salary structure to end the teacher shortage, rebuild the workforce and give our kids the future they deserve.”
Rajendra said Gavrielatos is a fervant believer in the transformative power of the teaching profession.
“He has devoted his working life to defending and advancing it,” Rajandra said.
“Teachers, students and the general public are all beneficiaries of Angelo’s tenacity, passion and intelligence.”
Among the many tributes on X from colleagues, educators and politicians, former independent Federal MP, Tony Windsor, said “You have always worked hard for your people Angelo, and my contact with you during the Gonski years and since has always been cordial and constructive".
From today, Rajendra assumes the presidency of the Federation, with Amber Flohm as deputy president, and Natasha Watt as senior vice president.
“It is an incredible honour to serve as president of the Teachers Federation,” Rajendra said.
“We will strive to give public education the resources and respect it deserves.”
