SA teachers’ union votes to postpone strike action planned for first day of school

Teachers have voted to postpone strike action which had been planned for February 2, the first day of school.

A public teachers’ strike on the first day of school has been postponed after union members voted 76 per cent against industrial action in a second ballot.

Members originally voted in favour of a strike, but a second ballot was called after the state government provided a comprehensive “back-to-school” Covid plan.

The plan addressed a number of the issues concerning the SA branch of the Australian Education Union.

A major sticking point in negotiations were union calls for rapid antigen testing, or similar surveillance regimen, in public classrooms.

That was not granted, after the union accepted the advice of chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier that blanket testing was not needed.

Reception and years 1, 7, 8 and 12 students will return to the classroom on the first day of school on Wednesday.

All other year levels will learn online from home.

Union state president Andrew Gohl, pictured, said the way members voted a second time around was not surprising. “I thinkit’s an indication that we’ve got the settings right within the union,” he said.

“Our members appreciate that the work that we’ve been doing to ensure a safer workplace for students and staff has had somegood results.”

However, future strike action has not been ruled out.

Mr Gohl said the union would be watching the start of term closely.

“We’re going to be dealing with a situation where Omicron is going to be washing through the school community and we’re goingto have a close eye on that,” he said. “We’ll be looking forward to members giving us feedback about many difficulties theyface.”

A major sticking point in negotiations was the union’s calls for surveillance rapid antigen testing, given NSW and Victorianstudents will have two tests a week.

The union eventually accepted the advice of chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier that blanket testing was not needed.

“We remain disappointed and somewhat perplexed around the move away from a systemic use of rapid antigen tests,” Mr Gohl said.

“However, I think the option of large numbers of rapid antigen tests being sent out to schools gives schools some flexibilityto allocate those to staff and students as they determine.”

Education Minister John Gardner said the government would keep acting on health advice.

THE BACKGROUND

About two-thirds of some 7000 union members voted on Monday to endorse industrial action in protest about the lack of pandemic planning ahead of the school term.

Education Department chief executive Rick Persse wrote to the union’s president Andrew Gohl requesting it call off the “divisive” strike.

The union put a second ballot to its members on Thursday, closing at 5pm on Friday.

Mr Gohl said the union’s executive wanted a system of regular testing of staff and students similar to the eastern states. The NSW government is saying teachers and students “should” have regular tests, and Victoria is strongly recommending twice-weekly tests.

The SA union specifically wanted enough RATs available to allow for random testing of students, either at home or in school, and for teachers to have access to the tests at “their request” with costs to be covered by the Education Department.

The demands were part of a 19-point plan given to the government on January 13. Other outstanding concerns pertain to support for teachers who want to work from home and supporting “vulnerable workers” or staff that have to care for others outside of school.

A decision is looming whether or not teachers will strike. Picture: iStock

The union put its concerns regarding RATs to SA’s chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier at a meeting at the AEU’s Parkside headquarters on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Gohl on Tuesday said the use of RATs remained an “an important plank for ensuring the virus does not spread.”

The government on Tuesday also announced it would deploy an extra 3000 air purifiers to schools next week, in addition to 1000 already provided.

Asked about the issue on Thursday morning ahead of the 10am deadline, Premier Steven Marshall said that after the meeing with Prof Spurrier earlier this week, the union’s demands had been “whittled down to three or four, maybe four, the main sticking point being the use of RATs”.

“I don’t believe there is any need for strike action in South Australia. The reality is I think we have a very sensible and safe” plan for the return to school.

The state government has averted potential industrial action by health workers announcing it will provide RATs to frontline workers at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, the Health Services Union says.

“We are very pleased with this outcome, this is an additional layer of protection for the staff and the patients they care for at the WCH,” HSU SA branch secretary Billy Elrick said.