AS TEACHERS across the region make preparations for what will be their fourth strike in less than 12 months, St Mary MacKillop College teachers have ruled themselves out of any strike action, deeming the move ‘too early’ and ‘disruptive’.
Next Thursday’s proposed strike forms the next step in the Australian Education Union’s (AEU) ongoing negotiation with the Victorian Government for a new pay agreement.
While the most recent strike action last November only included government teachers, the Independent Education Union (IEU) recently called on its Catholic and independent teachers to engage in strike action next week.
In spite of the union’s plea, St Mary MacKillop College IEU sub-branch representative Leanne Cook told The Guardian no one from the school would be striking next week.
“We met as sub-branch and we’ve decided not go out [on strike],” she said.
“A lot of us thought it was too early in the year and the disruption can really set your work back.”
Although teachers at government schools and independent schools have different union representation, the wages of government teachers impact upon their Catholic and independent school colleagues.
While the decision of the St Mary MacKillop sub-branch directly conflicts with the IEU’s call for strike action, Ms Cook said the sub-branch’s decision did not mean its teachers did not support the cause.
For more on this story, see Friday’s edition of The Guardian
(08/02/13).
