Teachers threaten to strike again in week nine if government declines new offer

SA teachers will strike again before the school year is out if the government does not accept their improved terms – including a 15 per cent pay rise over three years.

SA teachers will strike again before the school year is out if the government does not accept their improved terms for better work conditions and pay before December 1.

The Australian Education Union (AEU) met on Monday night with the executive committee agreeing to new pay demands – 6 per cent in the first year, followed by 5 per cent and then 4 per cent.

The AEU met with the government on Tuesday morning to advise them of the revised three-year proposal.

The revised pay rise comes after Premier Peter Malinauskas said last week the initial request for a salary increase of 8.64 per cent in the first year was not manageable in the current budget.

The Australian Education Union has threatened to strike again if its latest offer is rejected by the government. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / Emma Brasier

AEU president Andrew Gohl told The Advertiser he felt “hopeful” about the current negotiation processes but was prepared to strike in “week nine”, which is from December 11-15.

“Industrial action is certainly part of what we’re considering, all we’ve got as leverage is our labour,” Mr Gohl said.

“So there are two options really, either another strike in week nine or strike in the upcoming year, next year.”

Mr Gohl said better pay was key to solving the current nationwide teacher shortage crisis.

“We’re trying to increase salaries to attract and retain … and it’s important for the public to understand that unless we have those measures we will continue to lose teachers,” he said.

“In the current system not only will we find ourselves losing teachers but the profession is becoming very unattractive to upcoming graduates.”

Australian Education Union President Andrew Gohl says an increase in teachers’ salaries will help recruit and retain staff: NCA NewsWire/ Emma Brasier

Education Minister Blair Boyer said he was glad the Union had returned to the negotiating table.

“The state government will continue our negotiations with the Union in good faith, with the aim of delivering an outcome which is best for students, teachers and parents,” Mr Boyer said.

“However, as the state government has stated all along, any agreement must be affordable for taxpayers and possible to deliver.”

Beyond better pay, Mr Gohl said the union was also committed to fighting for improved working conditions for teachers within a “broken education” system in SA by providing them non-instructional planning time.

He said the aim was to decrease teachers’ workloads after school hours because the “planning, programming, marking, reporting” and other curriculum requirements took up additional time that was not compensated for in the current system.

Negotiations between the government and the union will continue this week.

This comes after thousands of public teachers have marched through the Adelaide CBD last Thursday.

The protest had traffic banked up and down King William St as the police was forced to close off Flinders St.

Protesting efforts also forced approximately 400 preschools and schools to close for the day, or offer modified classes.

Heading the procession was Mr Gohl again, wherein he promised the union would continue industrial strike action until they are met with a better offer.

“If that’s the case we will come back later on this year, we will come back next year and we will make life really difficult,” he said on Thursday. “Stay strong. We will win in the end. Keep the pressure up.”

Originally published as Teachers threaten to strike again in week nine if government declines new offer