Maree Freshney will be giving up a day of work tomorrow, but despite the inconvenience for the casual worker and mother of two primary-aged children, she says she understands the reasons why many South Australian public teachers are taking strike action on 1 September.
As a nurse transitioning back into full-time work after time away to be a full-time parent, Ms Freshney says she appreciates the pressures she believes too many teachers face.
“I guess they’re overworked and want more money too – and I get that,” she told EducationDaily.
With thousands of families across SA impacted by this Friday’s full-day strike, Ms Freshney knows not every parent will be as understanding.
But with negotiations between the Australian Education Union (AEU) and the South Australian government breaking down after the AEU’s calls for pay increases and additional support for teachers were not met, a ballot of union members found 80 per cent voted to walk off the job.
AEU SA Branch President Andrew Gohl said it was one of the strongest vote returns in the union’s history.
“It underscores the level of dissatisfaction with the Malinauskas government,” Mr Gohl said. “Just remember that it was education workers who were at the front-line workers during COVID. It was education workers who kept schools open so front-line workers could continue to send their kids to school.”
Strike response to “insulting” offer
The planned strike is in response to what the AEU’s SA branch has described as an ‘insulting’ enterprise bargaining offer from the SA government.
The union’s demands include a pay rise that amounts to 20 per cent over three years, as well as a support officer in every school classroom, plus additional time for teachers to complete administrative work.
The South Australian government expressed its disappointment that the teachers’ union didn’t respond to its pay offer before voting in favour of the industrial action this week, with Attorney-General Kyam Maher saying the government’s offer of three per cent per year is the same one offered to other public sector unions.
“We will continue negotiating and discussing with the union like we did with firefighters, like we did with ambulance officers, like we did with our nurses and I’m sure we will resolve this but, given one of the requests of the union is to have 20 per cent less face-to-face, there is still a way to go,” he said.
Pupil-free days had already been scheduled by many SA schools on the date of the teachers’ strike. For the schools that are affected by strike action, staff members will be available onsite at each school to ensure no children who are dropped off are turned away.
SA schools closed all day on 1 September are listed below:
Aberfoyle Hub Primary School
Adelaide Botanic High School
Adelaide High School
Adelaide Secondary School of English
Alberton Primary School
Aldinga Payinthi College
Allenby Gardens Primary School
Angle Vale Primary School
Ardtornish Primary School
Athelstone School
Australian Science & Mathematics School
Banksia Park International HS
Birdwood Primary School
Blakeview Primary School
Bridgewater Primary School
Brompton Primary School
Callington Primary School
Ceduna Area School (modified special class program offered)
Christie Downs Primary School
Christies Beach Primary School
Clare Primary School (Disability Unit open)
Coorara Primary School
East Adelaide School
Elizabeth Downs Primary School
Elizabeth Park Primary School
Enfield Primary School
Errington Special Education Centre
Evanston Gardens Primary School
Forbes Primary School
Freeling Primary School
Gilles Street Primary School
Gladstone High School
Glenunga International High School
Glossop Community School
Goolwa Primary School
Grant High School
Greenock Primary School
Hahndorf Preschool
Hahndorf Primary School
Hallett Cove East Primary School
Hallett Cove School
Hawker Area School
Hillcrest Primary School
Indulkana Anangu School
Indulkana Child Parent Centre
John Pirie Secondary School
Keith Area School
Kilkenny Primary School
Klemzig Primary School
Koolunga Primary School
Lake Windemere B-6 Children’s Centre
Lake Windemere B-6 School
Lameroo Regional Community School
Laura Primary School
Lobethal Primary School
Long Street Primary School
Loxton Primary School
Madison Park School
Magill School
Marryatville High School
McLaren Vale Primary School
Memorial Oval Primary School
Millicent High School
Minlaton District School
Moana Primary School
Modbury High School
Modbury School P-6
Morphett Vale Primary School
Morphett Vale Primary School
Mount Gambier High School
Mount Gambier North Primary School (IELC open)
Mount Pleasant Primary School
Mundulla Primary School
Mypolonga Primary School
Nailsworth Primary School
Napperby Primary School (including Pre-school)
Naracoorte High School
Noarlunga Downs Primary School
North Adelaide Primary School
North Ingle School
Northern Adelaide Senior College
Northfield Primary School
Norwood International High School
Nuriootpa Primary School
Old Noarlunga Primary School
Para Hills High School (Beafield Education Centre open)
Para Vista Primary School
Parafield Gardens High School
Parafield Gardens Primary School
Pimpala Primary School
Playford International College
Playford Primary School
Port Augusta West Primary School
Prospect North Primary School
Quorn Area School
Renmark High School
Reynella East College
Reynella Primary School
Risdon Park Primary School
Riverland Special School
Rose Park Primary School
Roseworthy Primary School
Roxby Downs Area School
Saddleworth Primary School
Salisbury East High School
Salisbury Heights Primary School
Salisbury Park Primary School
Sandy Creek Primary School
Seacliff Primary School
Seaton High School
Seaview High School
Sheidow Park Primary School
Solomontown Primary School
South Port Primary School
Stradbroke School
Sturt Street Community School
Surrey Downs Primary School
Tailem Bend Primary School
The Heights School
Thorndon Park Primary School
Tintinara Area School
Trinity Gardens School (St Morris Disability Unit – open with a modified program)
Two Wells Primary School
Unley High School
Uraidla Primary School
Urrbrae Agricultural High School
Vale Park Primary School
Valley View Secondary School
Victor Harbor High School
Victor Harbor Primary School
Walkerville Primary School
Wallaroo Mines Primary School
Wallaroo Primary School
Wandana Primary School
Warriappendi School
Whyalla Town Primary School
Willunga Primary School
Wirreanda Secondary School
Woodend Primary School
Yorketown Area School
