Parents back educators ahead of teacher strike
As a second teachers’ strike disrupts public schools, students will be kept at home and thousands of families will be forced to make alternative arrangements.
More than 35,000 teachers, principals and education support staff are expected to gather in Melbourne’s CBD on Thursday after rejecting a pay deal proposed by the state government.
Niki Galvin, a mother of two, says the education workforce needs to be supported and she prefers to keep her elementary-age child at home because of flexibility in work arrangements.
“Most parents instinctively understand how important it is to attract and retain quality teachers,” he told AAP.
“It is right that we support the union’s efforts to correct this inadequacy and historical injustice.”
Although all public schools will remain open on Thursday, there will be disruption in many classrooms.
“Due to the number of (union) members on our teaching staff, Thursday’s arrangements are different from the previous strike day,” said an email to parents from Kalinda Elementary School principal Shaun McClare.
Similar disruptions are likely to occur at nearby Warranwood Primary School.
“We understand how much of a hardship these actions will cause families. I am hopeful that a solution can be reached that will ensure our schools and our students are funded and resourced to meet the needs of our students,” said Principal Shane Harrop.
Members of the Australian Education Union Victoria on Tuesday rejected the government’s current offer of a 28.3 per cent pay increase over the next four years, calling for a better proposal to combat ongoing resource and staffing pressures.
Victoria branch president Justin Mullaly said: “The government has done too little to do anything meaningful to address this problem and our members are bearing the brunt of all the overload.” he said.
Unionized educators have been in a pay dispute with the government for almost a year; The worst-paid graduate teachers in the country earn $13,000 less than those in the best-paid Northern Territory.
Former deputy headteacher Melinda Davis told AAP the teachers’ strike was not just a dispute over pay but was also about addressing conditions and class sizes.
“The government has cut funding for state schools over the last 10 years and this slow decline in funding means we have schools in need of repair, but we have also lost large numbers of teachers in the profession,” the Swinburne education expert said.
“Our teachers are not just striking over conditions, they are striking over the quality of Victorian public school education.”
“The profession is at breaking point because the system is no longer fit for purpose. That’s the message Victoria’s teachers are sending to the premiership.”
The state government called on the union to call off the strike.
Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Ben Carroll said: “This deal would make Victoria’s teachers and education support staff the best paid in the country, with the best conditions.” he said.
Shadow attorney general James Newbury told reporters on Wednesday it was no surprise that the government had dropped the ball in negotiations with union members.
“I’m not going to speak out against what teachers are being turned away from because our teachers have been sidelined by this government for too long,” he said.
