Teachers strike over broken promise

By Lilly O’Gorman
STATE school students across Cardinia Shire stayed home last Thursday as teachers rallied in the city and stopped work in pursuit of better pay and working conditions.
Some primary and secondary schools were closed completely, while others operated on skeleton teaching staff.
Principal of Kooweerup Secondary College Kym Bridgford said 43 out of 83 teachers stopped work for the day and classes for year 9, 10 and 11 were cancelled.
“Kooweerup teachers who attended the (Australian Education Union) rally reported back to me that there were more teachers marching through the city than ever before,” Mr Bridgford said.
“I support the industrial action and when it’s my unions turn I intend to go out myself.
“I don’t think you can say to people that you’re going to give them a pay rise and not live up to it.
It would’ve been better not to have promised if not going to deliver it. I think that’s what most people are upset about.”
The Coalition Government has offered all teachers a 2.5 per cent pay increase as well as the opportunity for all teachers to receive a performance pay bonus of up to ten per cent of their salary.
A government spokesperson said this put teachers’ salaries up to around $95,000 in some categories and would make the best performing teachers in Victoria, the best paid in Australia.
“Teachers have demanded a 30 per cent pay rise over three years, without meeting performance targets, which is not only out of touch with the rest of the Victorian public sector, and the workplaces of most Victorian parents but will cost the taxpayer $14 billion,” the spokesperson said.
“The AEU strike will cause significant disruption to families and students whose daily activities are defined around school attendance.
“The Government have called on the AEU to come back to the negotiating table and prevent further disruption to families.”
Principal of Pakenham Hills Primary School Dale Hendrick said parents were supportive of the full closure of the school on Thursday.
“Every member of teaching service here went on strike, so the school was closed. Parents were very supportive and we had notified all parents well in advance,” Mr Hendrik said.
In a statement released on Thursday, AEU president Mary Bluett said the Baillieu government had backflipped on its promise to make Victorian teachers the highest paid, and was leaving teachers lagging behind other states.
“The decision to take action was not taken lightly and we acknowledge and apologise for any inconvenience caused to parents and guardians. For the long-term gain, we believe this is a necessary step,” Ms Bluett said.
“Today’s stop work rally is a call to the Premier to come to the negotiating table in good faith.”