Teachers march to Andrews' office

Teachers from Brisbane Water Secondary College marched to the electoral office of the Member for Peats, Ms Marie Andrews, as part of a NSW Teachers Federation drive for higher pay.

The march followed a NSW Teachers Federation meeting at Woy Woy Leagues Club on July 29 where a motion was passed to march.

The president of the Ettalong-Woy Woy Teachers Association, Mr Rob Landow, said that an additional motion was passed at the meeting to: "endorse the directives of the federation executive".

Mr Landow said that the directives called for a 25 per cent wage increase over two years.

Ms Andrews was not at her electoral office to meet the marchers.

Ms Andrews said: "These teachers certainly do deserve a pay rise.

"I was notified the day before of the plan by teachers to attend my office and I explained to Mr Landow, who led the delegation, that I was already committed to a Residents Action Group meeting with PlanningNSW."

A spokesperson at Ms Andrews' office said: "An appointment has since been made for Ms Andrews to meet Mr Landow to discuss the teachers' concerns."

The NSW Government is offering a six per cent increase over two years.

Mr Landow said: "There's been a dramatic real decrease in education spending.

"Teachers in the US and Canada earn double the amount that ours earn.

"Many parents I've spoken to are supportive of our position and Marie Andrews, as far as I know, is supportive also."

The secretary of the association, Mr Michael Fensom, said there was a 14 per cent difference between the Government's offer and the federation's claim.

He said that a five per cent wage increase recommended by the Vincent Report, handed down two years ago, awaits implementation and that the "quasi-independent" Vincent report aimed to put teacher wage levels on a par with those of similar professionals.

Mr Fensom said that the Government's offer "merely covers inflation".

Mr Landow said that the federation aimed to focus primarily on wage matters in its relationship with the state government.

Mr Fensom said that the issue of student assaults in schools was appended, although not discussed, at the July 29 meeting.

The federation was organising an audit for August that aimed to establish the nature and incidence of student violence in NSW schools.

Con Orfanos, August 4.