Teachers’ strike: Dubbo Catholic school teachers call on employers to invest in education

Dubbo Catholic school teachers joined colleagues from across NSW and the ACT in industrial action on Friday for the first time since 2004. Here’s what they’re striking for.

Dubbo Catholic school teachers draped in yellow ‘Hear Our Voice’ T-shirts joined colleagues from across NSW and the ACT in striking on Friday for the first time since 2004.

Starting at the Victoria Park Rotunda at 10.30am, teachers gathered together with members from the Independent Education Union (IEU) of Australia NSW/ACT Branch to fight for better working conditions.

Jeff Pratt from the IEU office in Sydney was in attendance, speaking to teachers about the importance of holding the strike.

“It’s a credit to you people to stand up for what’s right,” Mr Pratt said.

Jeff Pratt speaking to Dubbo Catholic school teachers at Victoria Park Rotunda on Friday, May 27. Picture: Aymon Bertah

“When our profession is under attack, what do we do, we fight back.

“We need to be treated like the professionals that we are.”

In explaining the turnout by eligible union members from the Bathurst diocese which Dubbo is part of, Mr Pratt said from a possible 414 voters, 95 per cent were in favour of the movement.

With growing concerns surrounding day-to-day working standards for teachers, the IEU and its members believe action needs to happen “now”.

St John’s College teacher Chris Rollo at Victoria Park Rotunda on Friday, May 27. Picture: Aymon Bertah

St John’s College teacher Chris Rollo gave an insight into his support for the IEU and Friday’s industrial action.

“I have always been a big believer in the power of the union movement to represent and advocate on behalf of all teachers across the whole system,” Mr Rollo said.

“But for me personally, I am sick and tired of having to make a decision between doing my job properly and giving up my personal life.

“It’s not just our profession, there’s other professions across the country where every day people come to work and they have to make that (same) decision.”

The focus from the union is to represent the significance education has in the development of children, and that teachers play a big part in that process.

Chris Stevens, a parent to primary and high school students, expressed his support bluntly.

“Our schools are building our future doctors, our medical staff, our politicians, our frontline workers, our shopkeepers, everyone, they’re building people,” Mr Stevens said.

“I call (teachers) brain neurosurgeons, they’re building brains, they’re some of the most important people in our society, they’re building the people that are building our society so I can’t put a measure on that and I can’t believe we don’t recognise that.

“We expect them to be the best but we don’t support them by giving (the right) conditions and wages to be the best.”

Dubbo Catholic school teachers at Victoria Park Rotunda on Friday, May 27. Picture: Aymon Bertah

Mr Rollo echoed those sentiments, urging the government and relevant employers to invest in education.

“If we’re not prepared to invest in our education system and invest in the teachers that are part of that education system then you’re setting yourself up for disaster,” he said.

The IEU, through a statement in the lead-up to the statewide industrial action, had five main demands. That included calling on employers to “pay teachers what they are worth” which would involve a 10-15 per cent raise over a two-year period.

Additionally, they want employers to give support staff a fair deal, “cut the paperwork” to let teachers do their job, an additional two hours away from face-to-face teaching to allow staff to plan their classes, and to end staff shortages.