NSW teachers to stop work as pay dispute deepens

Hundreds of NSW school teachers will stop work next week as their bid for a pay rise drags on. See if your school will be affected.

Catholic school teachers across NSW are expected to strike next week in pursuit of their bid to get a pay rise of between 10 and 15 per cent.

St Justin’s at Oran Park broke the news to parents on Thursday, saying their teachers will miss the first hour of the school day between 8.30am to 9.30am on Tuesday, November 15.

“Please be assured that our school will be fully operational on this day however classes may not run as normal for the hour that the action takes place.

“For the first half hour of the day, there will be a level of supervision available for those who arrive prior to 9.30am.

“It is our expectation that your children will attend school as usual on this day. And classes will operate as usual from 9.30 am that day.”

Lessons will begin 30 minutes later than usual on Tuesday.

The Independent Education Union flagged it would strike last month.

Independent Education Union president Mark Northam said numerous schools across NSW also have a one-hour stop-work meeting, after negotiations with Catholic schools have been ongoing for an entire year without any sign of progress.

He said lifting the pay rates of teachers would bring much-needed teachers into the sector.

“It is also about how you attract and retain teachers and it is also about support staff, getting them to the same level as their state school counterparts,” he said.

He said by stopping work they hoped to get Catholic school participants to the negotiating table.

“The purpose is to get our employers to the bargaining table, and come up with solutions around key issues which include salaries for four-year university educated teaching professionals, teacher workload and support staff,” he said.

Outgoing boss of the Diocese of Parramatta Greg Whitby said their schools had close to 100 vacancies at the moment.