Teachers set to strike on Thursday
Teachers across the Peninsula are set to join their colleagues in the NSW Teachers Federation and the Independent Education Union in Newcastle and Sydney in industrial strikes on Thursday, June 30.
Ettalong Woy Woy Teachers Association president Mr Christopher Wright said: "The NSW Government has failed to genuinely address the teacher shortage that is affecting the teaching profession across NSW, including on the Central Coast.
"An inadequate government response to the public sector wage dispute that leaves teachers and other public sector workers effectively with a wage cut, combined with an unsustainable and constantly increasing workload, ensures that the teacher shortage will be an ongoing and worsening crisis if the current situation is allowed to continue."
Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch said NSW Labor had initiated a new Parliamentary inquiry "to uncover the extent and impact of this crisis".
"The chronic shortage of teaching staff is having devastating consequences for the quality of education," she said.
She said the ongoing pay disputes would only worsen the crisis as the Liberal Government refuses to budge on the matter.
"As a former teacher, I understand the challenges and frustrations that our teachers face, as well as the lack of respect we feel from a Government that takes us for granted.
"In short, while teachers' pay is going down, the only thing going up is teachers' workload.
"This problem will not just go away if the government continues to ignore it. There must be change.
"I am hopeful that NSW Labor's efforts to initiate a Parliamentary inquiry will go some way in responding to the staff shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and the exhausting demands that are placed on our valuable teachers.
"Local teachers are strongly encouraged to make submissions to the inquiry."
SOURCE:
Media release, 24 Jun 2022
Liesl Tesch, Member for Gosford