SA public school teachers vote to strike on Thursday

SA public school teachers will strike on Thursday morning for the first time in a decade after an “overwhelming majority” of union members voted to walk off the job.

SA public school teachers will strike on Thursday morning for the first time in a decade after an “overwhelming majority” of union members voted to walk off the job.

The half day stop-work action will go ahead after enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations with the State Government stalled.

Schools and preschools will reopen by 12.15pm on Thursday.

An Education Department spokesman said while some government schools and preschools would remain open and operating as normal, the strike would result in others closing.

He said some schools and preschools will open with reduced staffing by offering a modified learning program and, in some cases, an Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) service will be available to families that book a place.

Principals and preschool directors will be writing to families this week to let them know what will happen at their child’s school or preschool.

Australian Education Union (SA Branch) president Howard Spreadbury said members did “not take industrial action lightly”.

Australian Education Union (AEU) members rally outside the Department of Education in Adelaide in October. Picture: AAP / Kelly Barnes

He predicted the majority of the 13,000 union members would take part in the strike, which will see teachers attend rallies across the state before schools and preschools reopen.

“Members in schools and preschools want the best conditions which will support all students’ learning outcomes,’’ he said.

“The government is missing an opportunity to hear from the profession about what is needed to improve public education in South Australia.”

If the government still fails to come to an agreement over class sizes, additional resourcing and greater incentives for country work, Mr Spreadbury said the union will consider escalation, which could include longer strikes.

Treasurer Rob Lucas said striking would do nothing to “change the budget position”.

He said education was receiving $200m more this year compared with last year, which would be used to fund government priorities such as literacy, numeracy, phonics checks and entrepreneurship.

“We’re not going to fund the priorities union bosses dictate,’’ he said.

The industrial action comes as the AEU urged principals not to turn to temporary relief teachers as “strikebreakers” to keep school doors open during the strike.

Australian Education Union (AEU) President Howard Spreadbury. Picture: AAP / Kelly Barnes

In its protocol document sent to members, the AEU said it “strongly opposes the employment of TRTs (temporary relief teachers) as strikebreakers to keep a workplace from closing”.

“Principals should NOT employ TRTs in place of AEU members participating in industrial

action as they will be contravening union policy,” the protocol says.

“TRTs are encouraged to take part in the industrial action.”

Mr Lucas said decisions about teaching programs should be left to principals, rather than “dictated by union bosses”.

“If a principal makes a judgment that they need some temporary teachers then they should be allowed to make that decision.”

Mr Spreadbury said the union was taking a “collegiate approach, encouraging all teaching staff to consider the implications of the Government’s position”.

He said the Education Department was responsible for keeping schools open during strike action, not principals.

“There would not be enough replacement teachers in any case to keep all sites open during a strike action,” he said.

The protocol also urges members not to “pit themselves” against a manager or principal at their school because of “assumed role differences”, warning it can be particularly damaging when a principal is also an AEU member.

“AEU members have a responsibility to be realistic in their demands on their principal. However, it should be kept in mind that the provocation of further conflict may fuel an already stressful situation,” the protocol says.