Parents across Tasmania will need to make alternative arrangements for their children next week as public schools and colleges will open late due to ongoing teacher strikes. The strikes are a response to a proposed 12-month wages and conditions offer from the government, which educators have deemed inadequate.
Schools in the North-West will open at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, followed by Northern schools on Wednesday and Southern schools on Thursday, with classes starting at 11:30 AM. Education Minister Jo Palmer emphasized that parents will receive communication regarding specific arrangements for these days.
Palmer also noted that while school buses will operate at their usual times, support school buses will not run in the mornings. “Every day of school matters,” she stated. “This disruptive and unnecessary action by the unions means we are unable to guarantee there will be enough staff on site to adequately care for students.”
The Australian Education Union (AEU) is advocating for a pay increase of 21.5 percent over three years. However, the government has labeled this demand as unaffordable. AEU state manager Brian Wightman placed the blame for the school closures squarely on the government, stating, “Educators are fighting for safer schools and more teaching and learning resources to benefit students.”
The state’s public sector unions are uniting to pressure the government to revise its current offer of a 3 percent pay rise over the next year. In a recent statement, Premier Jeremy Rockliff urged the unions to accept a revised offer, which maintains the 3 percent increase but includes additional leave conditions. This offer will be available for unions to accept until November 28, 2023.
“The government’s offer is almost double Tasmania’s annual inflation rate of 1.7 percent,” Rockliff remarked. He added that public sector wage growth in Tasmania has remained competitive, exceeding the national average over the past year.
Concerns regarding the pay offer are echoed by Thirza White, general secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU). “The current pay offer of 3 percent is below what’s needed to narrow the pay gap with public sector workers on the mainland, which stands at 5.9 percent,” she explained, highlighting the impact on recruitment and service delivery.
In the 2024-25 budget, $9.74 billion has been allocated for expenses, with $3.97 billion designated for employee costs. Projections indicate that employee expenses will rise to $4.01 billion in 2025-26, $4.1 billion in 2026-27, and $4.2 billion in 2027-28. Furthermore, employee benefits for those employed by the Department of Education, Children and Young People are set at $1.19 billion in 2024-25, increasing incrementally in subsequent years.
As negotiations continue, the impact of the strikes on educational services remains a pressing concern for parents, students, and educators alike. The situation highlights the ongoing tensions between the government and teachers over fair compensation and working conditions, with significant implications for the future of education in Tasmania.
