Catholic and public teachers in NSW to strike for 7.5 per cent pay rise

Teachers will walk off the job in NSW public and Catholic schools next week, as the cost of living fuels an inflation-busting pay rise demand.

NSW Teachers Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos led a public teachers’ strike in NSW in May. Picture: Getty Images

More than 30,000 teachers demanding a 7.5 per cent pay rise will stage an unprecedented joint strike in public and Catholic schools across NSW next week.

NSW Teachers Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos said the state government’s offer of a 3 per cent pay rise – more than the 2.5 per cent granted to other public servants – was not enough.

“We asked the Premier (Dominic Perrottet) to reconsider his decision to cap the pay of teachers at 3 per cent when inflation is more than 5 per cent and rising, yet he did nothing,’’ he said.

“As a result, an unprecedented and historic joint strike by all public and diocesan Catholic school teachers will occur on Thursday June 30. Marching together will be a massive demonstration of unity and commitment – one profession, one voice.’’

The NSW/ACT branch secretary of the Independent Education Union of Australia, Mark Northam, said the teaching profession was at “breaking point’’.

“The sharply rising cost of living, lack of real wages growth, ever-increasing workloads and the pandemic have caused crippling staff shortages in Catholic schools,’’ he said. “Our members are exhausted and burnt out.

“Staff shortages and sinking salaries mean teachers and support staff in Catholic diocesan schools are really struggling.

“Teachers are leaving the profession and graduates are not entering it.’’

Mr Gavrielatos said the NSW government had its “head in the sand’’. “Acting on uncompetitive salaries and unsustainable workloads is the only way to stop more teachers leaving and attract the people into the profession we need to fix the shortages,’’ he said.

The strike will be held the day before the last day of term 2, before the two-week winter break.

NSW teachers are demanding a pay rise of up to 7.5 per cent a year – a base rise of 5 per cent with a 2.5 per cent bonus to reward “experience and leadership’’.

Teachers now earn between $73,000 and $128,000 a year, depending on the school sector, years of service and seniority.