Teachers' Strike

Today was a state-wide Teachers' Strike. This is the clearest indication of the reasons why, that I could find on the web:


Federation president Maree O'Halloran said the NSW Government was the first state government in 15 years to be unwilling to negotiate staffing agreements.

"Be they coalition governments or Labor governments, we have always been able to sit down and come to agreement about a balance that gives you some local choice, but protects communities in the hard-to-staff areas," she said.

"This is the first time we have had a minister simply refuse to listen to the experience of teachers."

Ms O'Halloran said the Government had already acknowledged that if it abandoned the staff transfer system some schools would receive hundreds of applicants for teaching jobs while others would end up with "few applicants and larger class sizes".

The current staff transfer system gives priority in appointments to teachers who have accumulated points for years of service in remote areas or other regions where it is difficult to attract staff.

The Government wants principals to have the power to directly employ staff, and not necessarily take them from the transfer list.

"The teachers will be going ahead with industrial action on Thursday unless the Minister is prepared to negotiate so that communities in NSW are safe and are able to attract and retain teachers," Ms O'Halloran said.

Having quite a few friends who are teachers, and knowing how overworked and underappreciated they are, I applaud their action.  This seems to me to be just another way to disadvantage one of the most important sectors of our society.  And to disadvantage already disadvantaged pupils in isolated school districts.

Shame on you, our new Labor government.  I find myself continually disappointed with you these days, and I was SO optimistic when you were elected.