Australian Education Union SA branch to vote on another strike

Public school teachers may walk off the job for second time this year as their union increases pressure against the government – but will it disrupt crucial year 12 exams?

Public school teachers have warned they may strike again next month in a bid to pressure the state government to make a better offer on pay and conditions.

The Australian Education Union will ask its South Australian members to vote on whether to strike for a full day on Thursday, November 9.

It has given the government a deadline of November 6 to “make an acceptable offer”.

However it will launch a week-long ballot of its about 12,000 members on Thursday so it will be prepared to “call for swift action” by educators if it does not accept the government’s offer.

The teachers strike at Parliament House in September. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Thousands of educators walked off the job on September 1, forcing the closure of 167 public schools and preschools, affecting about 62,000 students.

AEU SA branch president Andrew Gohl has called on Premier Peter Malinauskas to intervene in the increasingly tense enterprise bargaining negotiations to avoid more disruption.

“We are now in the final term of the school year, and we’ve been patient,” Mr Gohl said.

“Since our successful industrial action last month, we’ve been engaging constructively and have made some significant gains for members.

“However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Premier doesn’t see public education as a

priority for his government.”

Mr Gohl said the union’s claims were “reasonable and will only improve the educational outcomes of students right across South Australia”.

“We are facing a national teacher shortage crisis. Every day we wait for this new agreement South Australia loses more educators to other states where workloads are more manageable and salaries are higher,” he said.

It is a crucial time of year for year 12 students, who are preparing for exams.

Students will sit tests for physics and accounting on November 9, and biology and modern history the following day.

Education Minister Blair Boyer said the move was “disappointing”, given the government was yet to formally respond to the union’s most recent proposal.

“The offer currently before teachers represents a record of more than $1.3 billion – a significant investment in the future of teachers and students,” he said.

“A high-quality public education system is a key priority of the Malinauskas Labor Government.

“In our first two budgets we have committed record funding to public education including $50 million for mental health and learning support specialists, $28.8 million for Autism Inclusion Teachers in primary schools, and $70 million to begin immediate work on the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care.

“That’s on top of our significant investments in teacher scholarships and school upgrades.”

Opposition education spokesman John Gardner said it was a disruptive time to propose strike action.

“The last thing South Australians want to see is a teacher strike as our Year 12s are in the middle of their exams,” he said.

“I think strikes should always be seen as the last option in industrial negotiations.”

The AEU is seeking a pay rise of 8.64 per cent in the first year of a new three-year agreement, backdated to May, and 5.5 per cent increases for the following two years.

The government has offered 3 per cent a year.

The union is also pushing for a 20 per cent reduction in face-to-face teaching time, to give more time for administration tasks.

A key sticking point centres on how long it will take to give all teachers an extra hour away from the classroom to plan lessons each week.