Tasmanian teachers to target MPs in phone campaign as wage rise wrangle continues

Teachers will take their campaign for better pay and conditions direct to MPs with a phone campaign aimed at influencing decision makers, the Australian Education Union says.

Teachers will take their campaign for better pay and conditions direct to State Government MPs with a phone campaign aimed at influencing decision makers, the Australian Education Union says.

AEU Tasmania president Helen Richardson said the Government was refusing to negotiate with teachers over their long-running campaign which has seen two rounds of stop work meetings disrupt government schools.

She said teachers would taking their message direct to the Premier and other Liberal MPs by

making calls to their offices in a bid to resolve the dispute before term two begins.

“Will Hodgman has refused for two weeks to even talk to educators so now during the school holidays teachers are taking their message about workload and kids missing out on the support they need direct to his office,” she said.

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School social worker Robyn Sutcliffe speaks at a public school stop work meeting in Devonport late last year. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

“Tasmanian teachers have the highest workload and are educating kids with the most complex needs yet Will Hodgman wants to make them the lowest paid in Australia and lock-in under resourcing for three years,” said Ms Richardson.

“As the Premier won’t talk to teachers, or meet with them, the only option that leaves is for them to phone him directly and explain why his offer will not meet the needs of students or teachers.

Liberal MP Sarah Courtney said the union needed to remain in good-faith negotiations with the Government.

“I would urge all unions in these negotiations to make sure that they’re taking offers back to their members,” she said.

“We don’t want to see schools being disrupted. We want to see outcomes that are fair to the community and fair to workers. I’d urge unions to negotiate with the government.”