Ballot results have been returned today with the overwhelming result that members of the SA Branch of the Australian Education Union voted to support a full day Stop Work action with a rally at 11am on Monday 1 July 2019.
Rallies will be held across the state to improve working and learning conditions in public schools and preschools.
Educators will be wearing red and gathering at Parliament House in the city and in regional centres in Mount Gambier, Whyalla and Port Lincoln.
AEU (SA Branch) President Howard Spreadbury wants the community to know that this Stop Work action has not been taken lightly.
The Marshall Government has persisted in pushing the line that educators were only ever concerned about the money. The education profession is unique compared to other professions because working conditions for educators directly impact on the learning environment for students.
“Many think that Enterprise Bargaining is just about a pay rise. Appropriate remuneration for educators is only one point in the AEU’s 7 Point Plan, which is our focus for Enterprise Bargaining.”
“However, remuneration does provide recognition of the value of the work done and indicates a level of respect for the profession. We believe that our hardworking educators are a valuable asset for the State,” said Mr Spreadbury.
The Marshall Government has labelled their remuneration offer as ‘fair and reasonable’ when the conditions of its delivery position South Australian educators the lowest paid in Australia for the first year of the new Agreement. Subsequent yearly increases in 2020 to 2022 ensure that does not significantly change.
“To be a world-class education system in South Australia, we need to offer nationally competitive salaries to all educators working in the public education sector. We are already aware that many teaching graduates are being enticed interstate by better offers.”
“We know that students, their families and communities value the work that educators do in our schools and preschools. We just want the Marshall Government and the Department for Education to value them too and ensure they do not become the hardest working but among the lowest paid educators in Australia,” said Mr Spreadbury.
