‘Patently absurd’: Malinauskas calls out teachers for prioritising money over students

Premier Peter Malinauskas is angered by the teachers’ strike going forward on Thursday despite the increased pay offer.

• Union rejects latest offer

Premier Peter Malinauskas has called out the Australian Education Union saying it cares more about money over the wellbeing of year 12 students entering exam season.

The state government has offered teachers a compounding 4 per cent increase over the first year but this doesn’t satisfy the teachers’ union, who will take strike action on Thursday during exams.

Mr Malinauskas spoke frankly, revealing his opinions about the issue during his radio appearance on Tuesday morning.

“Whenever someone says it’s not about the money – it’s always about the money,” he told FIVEaa.

“I’m pretty disappointed by the conduct of the union leadership.

“They said publicly that an improved offer would allow them time to consider and go away to do the work.

“We put an approved offer to them early yesterday afternoon and then a few hours later, they’re out on strike again.”

Peter Malinauskas has slammed teachers protest on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / Emma Brasier

Mr Malinauskas called teacher union demands “completely unreasonable” when considering the state’s budget capacity - with a 5.5 and 8.6 per cent-plus increase amounting to “billions of dollars”.

Mr Malinauskas described the demand to be “patently absurd ... it’s just not going to happen”.

Meanwhile, the government is pointing out the additional aid they provide teachers, such as financial investments into the public education system or negotiations relating to flexible work-hours.

Mr Malinauskas went on to criticise the teachers’ union, president Andrew Gohl and the entirety of the executives.

You should want to “get back to the negotiating table with a willingness to resolve this dispute rather than rushing out on strike,” he said.

“I think that’s beyond poor form and I actually think that it’s the union leadership that is inconsistent with their own members’ interests.”

Last week, AEU SA branch president Andrew Gohl said the union had “compromised along the way and negotiated fairly”, but said the government had not come to the table on the union’s demand of a compounding pay increase of between 5.5 and 8.6 per cent per year until 2026.

Opposition education spokesperson John Gardner said both sides needed to “get to the negotiating table for the good of our kids”.

“I don‘t think that the dueling press conferences is an appropriate form of negotiation,” Mr Gardner said.

“I think a lot of South Australians will look at the news tonight and see a couple of guys behaving like children - and that‘s really disappointing.”

Mr Gardner said principals would move “heaven and earth” on Thursday to ensure students weren’t impacted by strike action but slammed the union’s decision to strike mid-SACE exams.

“It’s not clear to me any reason at all on Earth why they need to g on strike this Thursday,” he said.

“If there was such an important need for a strike it could wait eight days until after the end of year 12 exams.”

The strikes have opinions divided and while many support teachers, organising a strike during the year 12 exam period has garnered a lot of anger.

This was reflected in the comments of The Advertiser’s last article on the teachers’ strike.

Reader Rod said “Anybody know any teachers who are struggling to make ends meet, I know plenty of families who are struggling big time. Straight out of college and get $60,000+ a year. What does it cost us for teachers each year in the budget.”

But Andrea had a more radical solution and commented: “Let them all strike without pay, see how long they last.”

Harry backed the sentiment but took it further saying, “Well teachers wanted respect, they just went down further in the public eyes.”