Parents in New South Wales have been told there will be minimal supervision at the state’s public schools on Monday morning as up to 58,000 teachers are removed from classes to attend a union stop-work meeting.
NSW teachers will meet at about 200 venues to allow NSW Teachers Federation members to hear details of a new three-year pay offer and conditions from the government.
Some schools have asked children stay home until at least 10am, while others have cancelled planned year nine and 10 exams. HSC exams will not be affected.
A NSW Department of Education spokesperson said there would be some minor disruption to the beginning of the school day, with students to resume classes before 10am.
“Students sitting their HSC exams will not be impacted as invigilators are not covered, and there is a long-standing convention class teachers will be there for students as they go into their exams,” they said.
Many schools have told parents there will be “minimal supervision arrangements” until 10am, while several schools said normal lessons will only resume from 10.30am.
NSW Teachers Federation president Henry Rajendra says teachers will meet in person from 8.30am on Monday to hear details of award negotiations, with the union to recommend a member vote.
“This important matter should be held during work hours as has been our long-standing practice,” Rajendra says.
NSW teachers became among the highest paid in the country last year when the union and state government reached a historic pay deal that gave new graduates a $10,000 pay rise.
Under the one-year agreement, the starting salary for teachers increased from $75,791 to $85,000, with the salary for a top-of-the-scale teacher increasing from $113,042 to $122,100.
When the varied award ended, the NSW Education Department and union agreed to negotiate a new three-year award.
The agreement means the government is committed to reviewing teacher workload, including the nature of the work, teaching loads, flexible arrangements and the right to disconnect.
Central Coast Council of P&Cs president Sharryn Brownlee says parents were surprised they were not given more notice.
“We recognise the right to meet with the union but with schools it is challenging when there is little notice. It’s also disappointing to have disruption when there is a huge driver around lifting student attendance. Some kids won’t go to school at all that day,” Brownlee says.
A spokesperson for Education Minister Prue Car said there was “a long-standing democratic process by which teachers can vote about their pay and conditions, and we respect their rights”.
“We expect minimal disruption to classes and no disruption to exams,” the spokesperson said.
