Most Tasmanian government schools will close tomorrow morning as thousands of educators walk off the job in the second statewide strike in less than two months.
The Australian Education Union (AEU) says teachers and support staff have been pushed into industrial action by the state government’s refusal to address concerns around pay, workloads and school violence.
The government says the strike will unnecessarily disrupt families and students in the final days of the school year.
Educators will be off the job until midday, with rallies planned in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie from 9:30am.
The dispute centres on stalled enterprise bargaining negotiations.
Unions are seeking a 21.5% pay rise over three years, while the government has offered 3% for one year.
AEU Tasmania president David Genford said educators had been left with no choice.
“We would rather be in classrooms, but we have been backed into a corner by a premier that refuses to act,” he said.
Genford said support staff were heading into Christmas without a pay rise and would again face weeks of unpaid stand-down over the summer holidays.
“Workloads are crushing staff, violence in schools is getting worse, and burnout is pushing people out of the profession,” he said.
“Yet the premier has deliberately stalled bargaining by sending in a ‘negotiator’ with no authority to agree to meaningful changes.”
Education Minister Jo Palmer earlier this week confirmed most schools would close until midday but said end-of-year activities would continue where possible.
“Student safety and wellbeing are our priority,” she said.
“We encourage the union to remain at the negotiating table.”
Premier Jeremy Rockliff rejected suggestions the government’s approach had contributed to the dispute, saying an offer had been on the table for several months.
“I would like that offer to be taken up so hard-working people in and across the public service can receive that pay rise before Christmas,” he said.
The premier has previously described the 21.5% claim as unaffordable.
Opposition Leader Josh Willie, a former teacher, said the second strike in recent weeks showed the government had failed educators.
“The education workforce doesn’t take stop-work action lightly,” he said.
“They are fighting for more support for student learning and alternative education options so every Tasmanian student can get the education they deserve.”
“Tasmanians expect the government to treat its workforce with respect and provide them with safe, fair and sustainable working conditions and it’s beyond time this government started listening to our teachers and support staff.”
Schools have contacted families directly about arrangements for Friday.
