The ACT Greens have thrown their support behind Canberra's public school teachers and school assistants in the midst of protracted negotiations with the ACT Government for better pay and conditions.
ACT Greens MLA Laura Nuttall will today amend a motion in the Legislative Assembly to strengthen calls on the Minister for Education and the Minister for the Public Service to direct ACT directorates to urgently resume enterprise bargaining with a clear objective of addressing outstanding claims and avoiding further industrial action.
"Workers have been clear about what they need: fair pay, manageable workloads, safe workplaces, and adequate staffing. The Government must come back to the table ready to listen and act," said Ms Nuttall.
"When teachers, school assistants, school psychologists and other school-based staff organise for fair pay and safe workplaces, they're not asking for special treatment - they're simply asking for the same respect and dignity every worker deserves.
"I could turn up to any school in Canberra and ask any parent or carer and I guarantee not a single one would say their asks are unreasonable. So, I'd like to know what the hold up is with the Government.
"I'm pleased that this is being discussed in our Parliament today.
The amendments Laura will make today call on the Government to act swiftly to address outstanding claims, respond to the outcomes of the School Assistant Classification Standards Framework review, acknowledge that ACT school-based staff deserve nationally competitive salaries and conditions, and report back to the Assembly by 10 June, outlining concrete actions taken to progress workers' claims.
"Along with better pay and conditions for teaching staff, workers are seeking improved pay, conditions and recognition for school assistants and support staff (sometimes known as LSAs).
"School assistants and education support staff are the backbone of our public education system.
"Their work is frontline work - dynamic, demanding and unpredictable. Often, they are what makes it possible for teachers to deliver effective learning.
"They support students with complex needs, keep classrooms running, and ensure every child can participate in learning. Yet too often their work is undervalued, underpaid and overlooked.
"Pay for ACT school assistants has fallen behind their counterparts in other jurisdictions, and we know this is contributing to workforce shortages, burnout, and increasing pressure on the staff who remain. That ultimately impacts students, particularly those who rely on additional support.
"This is the first time the ACT's school assistants have ever taken industrial action, and it's because this government has forced their hand by ignoring their claims for fair pay and conditions.
"Education support workers are telling us they are stretched beyond capacity.
"They are being asked to do more with less - more behavioural support, more administrative work, more responsibility - without the pay, training or staffing levels needed to do their jobs safely and effectively.
"We simply must do better for these essential workers.
Laura reiterated the ACT Greens' strong support for education workers taking industrial action to secure fair outcomes.
"I stood alongside education workers when they took action last week and I will continue to fight for their recognition and dignity at work," she said.
"No worker should have to strike to be heard - but when they do, they deserve our full support," said Ms Nuttall.
