Thousands of teachers and education staff packed Hobart’s Parliament Lawns today as the pay and conditions dispute with the state government continues to escalate.
It marked the third day teachers have walked off the job, following similar strike action in Tasmania’s north and north-west on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Australian Education Union (AEU) state president David Genford estimated up to 4,000 people attended the Hobart rally, describing it as “the biggest turnout we’ve seen at a protest like that in a long time”.
“People were extra loud when they needed to be because you’re at parliament house and you know the politicians are there,” he told Pulse.
“[The number of people] just really demonstrates how the members are feeling at the moment.”
The rolling strikes have targeted different regions on separate days, with around 1,500 education workers protesting in Launceston yesterday.
Teachers are demanding pay increases, improved working conditions and measures to address increasing workplace violence and abuse.
The government’s previous proposal included 3% pay rises in the first two years and 2.75% in the third year.
Education Minister Jo Palmer said the offer would “ensure our hardworking teachers get a pay rise, more allowances and improved conditions”.
“Every school day matters and we want our students in the classroom learning,” she said.
The union hopes for resolution before March 31, but warned of potential work bans and further action next term if negotiations fail.
“It might impact on reports or following up attendance, just different things that the government values that we don’t really think impacts on the students, such as the NAPLAN ban we had,” Genford said.
“That’s in the hands of our executive to make that decision.”
