Adelaide teachers strike: Thousands pack Flinders St to rally over stalled enterprise bargaining

“Try Harder Gardner” and “Lucas is a school wrecker” — these are the blunt messages thousands of striking teachers have sent the State Government at a packed city rally.

• How we covered Adelaide teachers strike
• Last week: Teachers strike likely as tensions escalate
• Teacher and union delegate lashes Liberals on AEU Facebook page

Thousands of striking teachers have taken to the streets to demand a better deal for themselves and their students, as one in five schools were forced to close.

Police had to shut off Flinders St outside the Education Department’s head office in the Adelaide CBD this morning as red-shirted union members spilled right across the road.

As John Farnham’s You’re the Voice got the crowd going, many raised banners with messages such as “Try Harder Gardner” and “Lucas is a school wrecker” — aimed directly at Education Minister John Gardner and Treasurer Rob Lucas — and “Our students are worth more than your test scores”.

The protest over stalled enterprise bargaining negotiations was one of seven around the state during a half-day strike this morning, which forced more than 180 schools and preschools, about one in five, to close.

AEU members send their message to the State Government. Picture: Tim Williams

Around 40 per cent of schools are either shut or running a modified program until 12.15pm.

The union has maintained the strike is over working conditions and funding for students, while the State Government has highlighted the union’s bid for an interim 3.5 per cent pay rise and says it needs more funding flexibility to raise academic achievement.

Treasurer Rob Lucas yesterday branded the strike a failure because so few schools were closing, while the union said principals were pressured to keep them open.

To a rousing reception, Australian Education Union state president Howard Spreadbury told the CBD rally that “clearly the Marshall government has underestimated the strength of our union and the community that supports you”.

AEU protest capped off with Aretha Franklin’s RESPECT. pic.twitter.com/NLd5fXaKHh

— Tim Williams (@twill345) November 29, 2018

“It’s clear to me today that the Marshall government is not only paying disrespect to you and your profession, but they have clearly underestimated your commitment, your passion to public education in this state,” he said.

“We will take this fight up to the Marshall government for as long as it takes to get the results that we need.”

Mr Spreadbury urged the Government “to listen to the profession”.

“Talk to the four out of 10 employees — teachers, leaders and support staff — in our schools who currently have insecure employment. They are on contract,” he said.

“Talk about new initiatives to the up to 50 per cent of teachers who in their first five years leave the profession because of the excessive workload.”

Thousands of teachers attended the rally. Picture: AAP/ Mike Burton

Playford Primary teacher Karen Roberts told the rally teachers were struggling with huge numbers of children with special needs and were drowning in paperwork. She called for more support staff, speech and behaviour specialists, and psychologists in schools.

“We need to send a message to the Government that we will not back down and be disrespected,” she said.

“What we need the most is for them to come to the party and lighten the load before we all find ourselves drowning in it.”

Principal and union project officer Steve Marshall called for reduced administration requirements, better resourcing and funding guarantees.

“No employee should be required to work with an unreasonable or excessive workload,” he said.

SA Association of School Parent Communities president Jenice Zerna said: “Many parents do not see what you do outside the classroom in your own time. (But) the majority of us support you fully. We know you are the experts. You know what you need.”

After speakers blared out Aretha Franklin’s RESPECT, teachers from the Instrumental Music Service ended the rally with a take on Pink Floyd’s The Wall: “Hey Lucas, you should be doing more. All we ask is a fair go for all,” they sang.

Following the protest, Mr Lucas said: “No amount of flag waving or singing John Farnham songs is going to improve student learning outcomes or change the amount of money that’s in the budget, which is a massive increase of $515 million.

“There needs to be a reasonable salary increase, but there needs to be enough money there for literacy and numeracy programs, for Year 1 phonics checks and all sorts of exciting programs that Minister Gardner has been talking about.

“The union has to back off seeking an extra $59 million for an extra 60 minutes of non-teaching time (a week) for professional discussions with peers and colleagues. Those sorts of claims we just can’t afford out of the $515 million. We see a greater priority for literacy and numeracy programs ...”

The union’s bid for smaller class sizes was not realistic, he said, because research showed they would have to be as small as 12-15 students to have any significant impact on learning outcomes.

Mr Lucas said parents would be “scratching their heads” to work out what the union had to complain about in light of huge funding increases.

“I think they’ll lose massive support from parents and grandparents if (industrial action) continues,” he said.

Both sides return to the bargaining table on Thursday afternoon.