Union set for more action in schools

UNION action is set to ramp up again after a “disappointing” turnout to an education forum at Parliament House yesterday as the fight for more staff and better pay pushes on.

All members of parliament were invited to attend the event to hear teachers, principals and support staff talk about the issues impacting education.

Australian Education Union Tasmania state manager Roz Madsen said the forum focused on workloads and a “decent salary”.

“Politicians heard the individual stories from teachers about how issues such as large class sizes, administrative tasks and lack of time for lesson planning is impacting the quality of education they can deliver,” she said.

Labor’s Rebecca White and David O’Byrne, Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor and Liberal Speaker Sue Hickey attended.

“What was disappointing is that no other members of government chose to attend,” Ms Madsen said.

Ms Hickey said: “[The Government] have offered 95 additional auxiliary staff, but from what I am hearing today, the teachers assistants are a real issue … I don’t think they are being recognised for the amount of time that takes up or the personal stress.”

Ms Hickey later released a statement saying: “The Government has assured me they want to sit down with the AEU and negotiate in good faith.”

Teachers have rejected the Government’s offer of a 6 per cent pay rise over three years. The union is seeking a 3 per cent increase per year.