PUBLIC SCHOOL teachers across the Tweed and across NSW staged a strike and were attending stop work meetings this morning, where they were briefed on the latest salaries and conditions offer from the NSW Department of Education.
Tweed parents were told that many schools will re-open at 10am, however parents should check with individual schools.
NSW Teachers Federation President Maurie Mulheron said the timing of the meetings was designed to minimise disruption with minimal supervision provided at every school. Teachers returned to work following the hour-long meetings.
Mr Mulheron said the Teachers Federation had negotiated an offer that includes:
- A 2.5% annual increase for three years from January 1, 2017 and,
- All current working conditions maintained in the new Award.
“The offer teachers have voted on today delivers real salary increases, locked in and secured for three years, and the preservation of all working conditions,” Mr Mulheron said.
The results of the vote will be known later today.
Mr Mulheron said the pay offer was at the top of the Government’s 2.5 per cent salaries cap but it failed to take account of the increased demands being placed on teachers.
“There is something seriously wrong with a Department that employs more statisticians than curriculum support offers, where data collecting is a higher priority than teaching and learning.”
“The Teachers Federation will be campaigning to fight back against the loss of Department support for schools that has adversely impacted on the work of principals and teachers that has happened under a policy called Local Schools, Local Decisions.”