Teachers call for deal to be struck
TOWNSVILLE teachers will decide whether to take strike action against their employers for better work conditions.
Independent Education Union of Australia secretary Terry Burke said members were frustrated by stalled negotiations, which are due to be finalised this month.
“They’ve had our log of claims since November last year and highly detailed positions since May, and they are yet to fully respond to all of those matters by the end of October. Well, it’s already October,” Mr Burke said.
The union has taken the Townsville Catholic Education Office, St Patrick’s College and Ignatius Park College to the Fair Work Commission.
An order from the commission will allow union members to vote on whether to strike or take other industrial action.
More than 700 Townsvillebased union members have until October 24 to vote for proposed industrial action.
Mr Burke said the union was asking for better working conditions for its members with workloads, professional development and pay among the issues of most concern.
He said the State Government’s public servants’ annual bonus of $1250 should also be passed on by the Catholic Education employers.
“The employers have rejected that on what seems to be the case they would have difficulty funding payment in one hit so we’ve offered spreading that quantum of money over time,” Mr Burke said.
“As far as State Government is concerned and as far as the union is concerned, this should be passed on.
“The curiosity is if the $1250 was in the form of a percentage increase they would be prepared to pay it, so it’s hard to see why the employers are walking away from a commitment to parity of outcome with the state sector.”
Townsville Catholic Education and St Patrick’s College issued identical statements outlining the organisations, which are responsible for 28 schools across the region, were disappointed the union had proposed industrial action.
“Employers have offered a package of conditions including annual wage increases of 2.5 per cent and will continue to work constructively with the union,” the statements read.
“Employers are disappointed that negotiations have not been finalised based on the reasonable offer that has been made, and also disappointed that the union is now encouraging its members to vote to take industrial action.”
Ignatius Park College not respond by deadline. did