Parramatta: NSW Teachers’ Federation to rally outside Industrial Relations Commission
Protesters are poised to descend on Parramatta and call for the government to improve teachers’ salaries and conditions after it “rammed” uncompetitive salaries through the IRC.
Parramatta
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The NSW Teachers’ Federation has called for a day of action and its members will rally outside the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) across the state, including Parramatta, on Wednesday morning.
The Federation Executive met on Friday and called for a day of member action in response to the State Government’s decision to “ram a three-year award through the IRC”.
Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos said Premier Dominic Perrottet and Education Minister Sarah Mitchell chose to make “reckless announcements” through the media during school holidays instead of negotiating with teachers.
“The government would rather use the IRC to push through its agenda – which includes a real wage cut – than commit to genuine negotiations with Federation to address the uncompetitive salaries and unsustainable workloads that have caused the teacher shortage crisis,’’ he said.
The federation objects to the capped 2.53 per cent pay rise when inflation is 6.1 per cent and “is tipped to reach 7.75 per cent”.
Members have also expressed anger over the government not taking action on heavy workloads.
“The government’s award application fails to address the crippling workloads contributing to 60 per cent of teachers indicating they plan to leave the workforce in the next five years,’’ Mr Gavrielatos said.
“There is nothing more important in education than ensuring every child is taught by a qualified teacher every day, in every lesson.”
He said the government last week conceded the pay of teachers was uncompetitive but its only plan was to give an unknown number of top-of-the-scale teachers a pay rise via a yet-to-be-determined performance pay process.
Last week, Mr Perrottet also announced that teachers would be given more time to prepare “high quality lessons” to deal with the new school curriculum.
“For high school teachers, this additional time will mean that they will now have the equivalent of almost one full day every week for lesson planning,” Mr Perrottet said.
Ms Mitchell said the time would give teachers the opportunity to fully engage with the new curriculum, which is slated to be delivered by 2025.
For secondary school teachers, who receive five hours and 35 minutes of “release” time each week, they will be guaranteed the equivalent of an extra 30 minutes per week for three years.
Primary school teachers receive two hours of preparation time and under the changes, they will be guaranteed the equivalent of an extra 30 minutes per week in 2023, increasing to an extra 60 minutes per week in 2024 and 2025.
But Mr Gavrielatos said the pay rises for top-of-the-scale teachers and the extra preparation time failed to tackle real problems.
“It does not address the issue of crippling workloads associated with the out-of-control admin burden, nor does it offer a structural solution to address the totally inadequate amount of time teachers have to plan, prepare and collaborate,’’ Mr Gavrielatos said.
The federation encourages members to wear red to school and take part in a social media campaign.
Members from Greater western Sydney and surrounds are authorised to rally at the IRC in Smith St, Parramatta, from 7.30am until 8.30am.
The union originally planned to strike during the start of HSC exams, with students due to sit the English exam on Wednesday, but it was averted after Ms Mitchell wrote to leaders urging them not to “add to student anxiety”.
“Strikes on school days are always unnecessarily disruptive and cause stress for
students and parents, even more so during the HSC exams,’’ she said.
“The NSW Government has set out a fair and reasonable offer to address teacher pay
and workload issues. The matter is before the Industrial Relations Committee and I
continue to urge the union to respect due process.”
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