Rolling SA teachers strikes set to impact from today
More than 50 public schools and preschools will close an hour early this week as rolling teacher strikes begin. SEE THE LIST
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South Australian teachers have vowed to continue industrial action, with more than 50 public schools and preschools to close an hour early this week as rolling strikes begin.
The Education Department says Moonta Area School will be the first to shut down early today, with teachers to rally in Kadina.
The vast majority of the 51 stoppages will be on Thursday, including many in Adelaide’s southern suburbs but also other metro and country areas.
Among the high schools will be Christies Beach, Willunga, Wirreanda, Brighton, Marryatville, Whyalla and Victor Harbor.
Primary schools include Linden Park, Rose Park, North Adelaide, Marion, Edwardstown, Happy Valley and Christie Downs.
Several rallies will be held outside MPs’ offices on Thursday, most notably at Premier Steven Marshall’s Norwood electorate office.
In many cases, union members will walk off the job early to head to rallies but their schools will stay open because there will be enough remaining staff to care for students.
It is not yet known how many other schools will close early over the following two weeks as the rolling strikes continue.
The action comes after 15 months of enterprise bargaining. The Government last week instigated a conciliation process in the Employment Tribunal.
Education Minister John Gardner said the number of closures this week “show that the vast majority of educators are choosing not to take part in industrial action”.
“We are disappointed that the AEU (Australian Education Union) are encouraging further industrial action, which will inconvenience parents, grandparents and students,” he said.
“This type of industrial action does nothing to help students and does nothing to advance the enterprise bargaining process.
“The Government has made an exceptionally fair and reasonable offer and I would encourage the union leadership to accept it.”
But AEU state president Howard Spreadbury said the action would be concentrated in different parts of the state each week and “it might be 151 (closures) next week”.
The rolling stoppages were therefore not comparable to the previous statewide half and full-day strikes when hundreds of schools shut down simultaneously, he said.
The Government has said it will not raise pay rise offers of 2.35 per cent for teachers and 3.35 per cent for principals, but is willing to negotiate on conditions including classroom support funding.
Mr Spreadbury said the union was still fighting for a better salary deal as well as conditions.
“It’s still a package for us, on conditions and pay, in that order,” he said.
The dispute returns to the Employment Tribunal next week.
The list of closures can be found here