‘Gutless’: Teachers furious after Premier drives to steps of plane and refuses to stop and talk to them over pay deal

Teachers angry the NSW Premier won’t talk to them over a pay deal yelled abuse at him as his limo drove him onto the airport tarmac following a flying visit to Griffith | WATCH the exclusive video

NSW Premier Chris Minns was abused by furious teachers calling him “gutless” as his limo drove past them and onto the airport tarmac following a flying visit to Griffith.

“Go back to your city,” one protester shouted. “We put you in we’ll get you out.”

The placard waving protesters called the Premier “gutless” for driving directly to the Rex plane on the tarmac rather than speaking to them.

Teachers Federation Far West organiser Brett Bertalli said the teachers were furious that the Premier had reneged on a pay deal that would have lifted teachers’ salaries by up to 12 per cent.

“The teachers feel completely betrayed,” he said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns was heckled by teachers during a visit to Griffith. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“You cannot raise up what is an already fragile profession and then crash it down without expecting it to shatter.”

Mr Bertalli said the teachers had been joined by parents at Griffith airport and were waiting to talk to the Premier before he left.

NSW Premier Chris Minns emerges from his limo on the tarmac at Griffith airport, right, as he is heckled by protesters, left.

“He would not walk and talk to them but got permission to drive directly to the steps of the plane as it waited on the tarmac,” he said. “They were furious.

“These are the same teachers who stood outside the polling booths campaigning for this Premier only to have the promise broken.”

The pay deal would have seen new teachers in NSW starting out at $85,000, making them the highest paid in the country, and seen top level teachers‘ pay boosted by 8 per cent to $122,100.

It is the latest outburst the in the escalating tensions between the Minns’ government and unions who claim the government’s offer to teachers represents a 2.5 per cent wages cap that discouraged new teachers from joining the profession.

“There are vacancies for 20 teachers at Griffith High School, that’s 20 per cent of the total staff,” Mr Bertalli said.

“These teachers and parents are protesting because they see kids without a teacher in the quadrangle every day.”

At a press conference today Mr Minns said the negotiations with the teachers had been conducted “in good faith” and he hoped that both sides would get back around the table to continue talks.

“Let’s give peace a chance,” he said.

Mr Minns said the pay deal would make new teachers in NSW the highest paid in the country.

Mr Minns said: “What we have spoken to the Teachers Federation about already would see first year teachers be the best paid in the country.”