Teacher and Principal members of the Australian Education Union will walk off the job as the Rockliff Government continues refusing students and educators much-needed in-class support solutions to alleviate the state’s deepening education crisis.
Fed up with Rockliff Government inaction on worsening working and learning conditions in Tasmanian schools and colleges, Tasmanian educators will on Friday March 10 stop work from 1.30pm and not return for the remainder of the day.
The AEU’s Walk off for Workload stop work action is a last resort measure for educators who see no choice but to take a stand for much needed public education investment, union President David Genford said.
“For more than 18 months educators have been desperately calling on the Rockliff Government to address the workload issues in our schools and colleges that is seeing student learning falling and educators walking away,” he said.
“Teachers and Principals do not wish to inconvenience families, but we take this action for our students who are missing out on in-class support and suffer the most when excessive workloads drive teachers out of our classrooms. It’s the only choice we have to get the Rockliff Government to invest in the workload solutions needed to lift learning.
“The Rockliff Government could stop this action taking place by immediately investing in in-class support for every student and workload solutions that will keep teachers in our classrooms – but sadly, improving outcomes for students doesn’t seem to be a priority for this Government.”
The stop work action announcement comes after the Rockliff Government this week failed to meet the deadline for a new Teachers Agreement offer, having previously committed to present a complete and detailed offer by March 1.
“It is unacceptable that the Rockliff Government has sat on its hands while student learning suffers and more teachers burnout,” he said.
“If Premier Rockliff once again washes his hands of teacher negotiations, he is washing his hands of students who need support and teachers who are burning out.
“Stop work action is the final straw for educators, but teachers are prepared to continue taking action until real solutions to lift learning in Tasmania are implemented.”
