SA public school teachers to walk off the job for a full day strike on Monday, July 1

Public school teachers will walk off the job next week after members voted to strike over pay and learning conditions they say are forcing educators across state borders.

Public school teachers will walk off the job for the whole day next Monday after their union said a member ballot overwhelmingly endorsed the strike action.

Thousands of teachers are expected to protest outside Parliament House and at rallies in Mount Gambier, Whyalla and Port Lincoln.

The Australian Education Union says it fighting for the working and learning conditions for staff and students, while Treasurer Rob Lucas has attacked it for choosing “the path of maximum disruption and chaos for parents”.

As they did last November ahead of a half-day strike, schools and the Education Department will now have to scramble to work out which schools will close, and which ones will have enough staff remaining to open.

Earlier this month the union’s executive decided it could not recommend the State Government’s enterprise bargaining offer to members, which included a 2.35 per cent payrise.

Australian Education Union President Howard Spreadbury. Picture: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

AEU SA president Howard Spreadbury said the decision to strike was not taken lightly and stressed it was not just about pay.

“Appropriate remuneration for educators is only one point in the AEU’s seven-point plan,” he said.

“However, remuneration does provide recognition of the value of the work done and indicates a level of respect for the profession.

“We know that students, their families and communities value the work that educators do in our schools and preschools.

“We just want the Marshall government and the Department for Education to value them too and ensure they do not become the hardest working but among the lowest paid educators in Australia.

SA Treasurer Rob Lucas. Picture: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

“To be a world-class education system in South Australia, we need to offer nationally competitive salaries to all educators working in the public education sector.

“We are already aware that many teaching graduates are being enticed interstate by better offers.”

Treasurer Rob Lucas said, “We are disappointed, but perhaps not surprised, that the union bosses from the AEU have got their wish and proceeded down the path of maximum disruption and chaos for parents, grandparents and students in the final week of term.”

“The Government has put forward an exceptionally fair and reasonable offer, one that provides a 2.35 per cent per annum pay rise until May 2022 and millions in additional funding for schools with higher levels of complexity, for highly-accomplished and lead teachers, and country incentives.”