Government’s new pay offer might be enough to halt teachers’ stop-work action

The State Government will make an 11th-hour counter-offer to public school teachers in a bid to head off stop-work action planned for next week.

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the Government’s improved offer would include a reduction in contact hours for primary school teachers. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

THE State Government will on Friday make an 11th-hour counter-offer to public school teachers in a bid to head off stop-work action planned for next week.

Australian Education Union members are planning to take stop-work action across the state on Tuesday and Wednesday.

SCHOOLS TO CLOSE AS STOP-WORK ACTION SNOWBALLS

EDITORIAL: DISPUTE HAS RUN TOO LONG

The parties head into talks at 10am on Friday in which the Government is expected to improve its counter-offer in the long-running pay and conditions dispute.

Union state manager Roz Madsen said it was possible the offer might be enough to avert the walk-off by teachers.

“If that counter-offer was met, this would not be happening next week,” she said.

“We’ll have to see. If it comes to fruition, if there is an offer on the table [on Friday], then we will consider it at the time.”

Australian Education Union state manager Roz Madsen. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

The Education Department will on Friday release a list of schools to be affected by the industrial action, if it goes ahead.

The Government is expected to reveal an improved offer for teachers — including a 3 per cent rise for some teachers in the first year of a three-year deal.

Teachers have been holding out for 3 per cent as well as improvements to a range of working conditions.

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff on Thursday said the Government’s improved offer would include a reduction in contact hours for primary school teachers from 22 to 20 hours, and steps to reduce workload pressures on principals by employing more support staff.

He said he was disappointed that the union had called for industrial action while negotiations were still continuing.

“Union action in threatening to close our schools and disrupt learning while negotiations are ongoing is a very poor reflection on their commitment to students and their education,” Mr Rockliff said.

“The Department of Education is now assessing the negative impact of the AEU’s industrial action on student learning, and what actions need to be taken to ensure a duty of care to students.

“Parents will be informed [on Friday] of these arrangements by their school.”

[e-mail]