MOORABOOL teachers have warned there could be more strikes after joining thousands of colleagues who walked off the job last Wednesday.
Classes were cancelled as Ballan Primary School principal Brian Reynolds, the school’s assistant principal, its eight teachers and one support staff member joined more than 15,000 people who marched to Parliament House.
The strike was led by the Australian Education Union to protest the state government’s offer of a 2.5 per cent annual pay rise.
The union wants a 30 per cent increase over three years, a 50 per cent reduction in the number of teachers on short-term contracts and maximum class sizes of 20.
Members also oppose the introduction of performance-based pay.
Mr Reynolds said that while pay was not the biggest concern for staff, the government’s offer was well below the inflation rate.
“So in real terms we are been offered a pay cut,” he said. “We need to ensure that we are able to provide the best teaching and learning conditions to continue improving student outcomes and not have them eroded.”
He said the government had to recognise the large amount of overtime worked by staff.
“This includes time taken to plan and prepare lessons; attend school events, camps and excursions; meet with parents and plan for individual student needs,” he said.
“The time provided by school staff is very happily given, but this needs to be recognised. At times this can be as high as working 60 hours a week.”
Mr Reynolds said more industrial action would follow.
“At the stop-work meeting on Wednesday it was decided that there would be rolling half-day stop-work action across the state during term four.”
Teaching Profession Minister Peter Hall defended the government’s proposal to reward teachers based on individual performance.
“We need a system where talented teachers with new ideas and energy are encouraged, recognised and rewarded, not pushed into a one-size-fits-all and time served mentality.
“Our offer would give all teachers a pay rise of 2.5 per cent and for the best 70 per cent of our teachers a substantial bonus each year.”
