MELTON primary and secondary school teachers have vowed to continue lobbying for better working conditions and pay.
A rally outside Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Andrew Elsbury’s Keilor office on Friday was part of a series of rolling strikes that will continue until December 21.
Negotiations broke down on November 22 after Premier Ted Baillieu refused to respond to the education union’s revised salary offer. Teachers have lowered their demand from a 30 per cent pay increase over three years to 13 per cent.
Kurunjang Secondary College music teacher Joanne Zerafa said more than 15 teachers from the school went to the rally.
She said teachers would continue with rolling stoppages until the end of the year.
“The fact we are constantly in industrial action shows that we don’t feel respected in our positions.
“It’s not just about a pay rise, it’s about the conditions that the state government continues to impose.”
Ms Zerafa said teachers remained opposed to the introduction of performance-based pay.
“Every child is different. For some students success might be enrolling into a TAFE course after their year 12 studies, so how can you measure the success of a student and teacher simply on grades?
“Teachers working together will always provide the best outcome for our children.”
Classes at Kurunjang primary and secondary schools, Staughton College and Rockbank Primary School were affected by the half-day strike.
