The Hodgman Liberal Government’s decision to move contract workers into
schools is a direct result of its dysfunctional approach to unnecessarily
drawn-out wage negotiations.
Shadow Education Minister Josh Willie said there was no need for the
situation to have reached today’s point where contract cleaners were shifted
into schools, which had the potential to cause unwarranted disruption to
students.
“Wage negotiations have now been needlessly dragging on for more than a
year because the Hodgman Government never had any intention of getting around
the table and negotiating in good faith,” Mr Willie said.
“Instead of supporting Tasmania’s education system and paying all
employees including cleaners fairly, the government has been determined to
create division and havoc and today the Treasurer has sought to worsen the
situation with contract workers.
“What Treasurer Gutwein should be doing instead of provocatively
exacerbating the situation is getting on with the job of negotiating a fair
wages deal.
“Additionally, it is disruptive to students for workers they are
unfamiliar with to suddenly be on school grounds.
“School cleaners deserve a fair deal, not to be further penalised by the
government.
“The
Education Faculty Attendants I worked with in my past career as a teacher were
always willing to listen to a student or educator, offer a word of
encouragement and go above and beyond to make sure learning programs were
successful inside and outside the classroom.
“Mr Gutwein should be ashamed of the way he has treated school support staff, teachers, students and parents.”
Josh Willie MLC
Shadow Education Minister
