Teachers to walk off the job after State Government takes union to tribunal
Teachers are planning more industrial action — starting next week — as the State Government takes the union to the employment tribunal over a deadlock on pay and working conditions.
SA News
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- June ‘19: More than 250 schools close amid teacher strike
- November ‘18: Thousands of teachers strike in Adelaide
South Australian teachers have vowed to continue industrial action, despite State Government moves to send their wages and conditions dispute to the employment tribunal.
The Government has lodged an application for a conciliation hearing, but the Australian Education Union has accused it of “strong arm tactics” in abruptly ending negotiations.
“We have been working hard with the government negotiators and doing all we could so that an improved offer could be provided to members as soon as possible,” AEU state president Howard Spreadbury said.
Mr Spreadbury said a ballot among teachers had overwhelmingly supported the introduction of rolling stoppages during the final three weeks of the current school term, starting next Thursday afternoon.
Classes would finish one hour earlier, Mr Spreadbury said.
The state government has offered teachers a 2.35 per cent pay increase in each year over the life of a new enterprise agreement.
As well as the pay increase, the government has put $42 million on the table over four years for additional support for schools with complex needs and $13 million to create new positions for highly-accomplished and lead teachers.
But the union says the proposed agreement does not do enough to address its concerns over working conditions.
A first directions hearing has been scheduled in the employment tribunal today.
Treasurer Rob Lucas said taxpayers “just can’t afford anything more” and is taking the union to the South Australian Employment Tribunal.
It might only be a one-hour stoppage, but how will it affect you? Let us know in the comments below
“It’s a pretty generous package. We’re calling on Howard (Spreadbury) to call off these rolling stoppages,” he told ABC Radio Adelaide.
“What we’re saying is let’s sit down and talk with a conciliator from the Employment Tribunal to try and reach some sort of settlement on this.”
Negotiations over conditions and salary levels have been continuing for more than a year.
It reached a boiling point in November last year when more than 1000 teachers walked off the job.
More recently, protesters gathered outside Parliament House at the beginning of July with more than 250 schools and preschools closing.