South Australian public teachers, leaders, support staff and TAFE lecturers will attend a rally at the Department for Education (DfE) Head Office on 26 October.
The Australian Education Union claims this will initiate ongoing action in response to unproductive enterprise bargaining discussions and TAFE campus closures.
The AEU entered negotiations with the state government in May this year to strike a new deal for public school and preschool teachers, leaders and support staff.
“The AEU’s claim has been largely dismissed,” said South Australian Branch President, Howard Spreadbury, claiming that there has been almost no progress with government negotiators in meeting any significant proposals put forward by the union.
“Our proposal is about common sense in building a strong public education system in South Australia,” Mr Spreadbury continued. “It is not merely about pay and conditions but focuses heavily on ensuring that the conditions of employment within DfE offer the best possible education for our students.”
The AEU’s claim, which consists of measures to improve pay and gender wage gap, workload pressures and employment insecurity, has been met with blatant disregard by the government with no alternative strategies offered to address key concerns.
“Members have been left with an immense feeling of disrespect from this government for the vital work they do in educating children and young people across the state,” stated Mr Spreadbury.
“Class sizes are ballooning, job security is not improving and complexity in our schools and preschools is on the rise. The cost of living pressures are skyrocketing and wages are not keeping up.”
“Members have had enough and this is why they will be rallying to demand respect from this state government on 26 October,” said Mr Spreadbury - the first event of what he claims will be escalating action in the face of a contemptuous attitude towards public educators and students.
