TEACHERS from across the region marched on the Catholic Education Office yesterday morning to protest what they say are threats to their pay, job conditions and job security.
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Around 200 teaching and non-teaching staff from nine Catholic schools across Bathurst, Oberon, Lithgow and Orange gathered at Paddy’s Hotel in Kelso to take part in the strike action.
Independent Education Union (IEU) Bathurst organiser Jackie Groom said union members had rallied to protest the proposed new enterprise agreement for NSW Catholic Schools.
“We are handing in a petition on a copy of their proposal to the Catholic Education Office,” she said.
Ms Groom said that apart from reducing salaries, the proposals would lead to larger classes, less time for lesson preparation, fewer resources and support in the classroom and less time spent with each student.
“My biggest fear is that the deregulation of working conditions will lead to a less effective teaching and learning environment,” she said.
She added she was concerned by the proposal to abolish promotional positions at Catholic schools.
“Teachers are already under pressure with the national curriculum and national teaching standards. They do not have the time to do the administrative work which is being done at present by people in promotional positions,” she said.
Ms Groom said there had been a lack of consultation about the new enterprise agreement, adding there were no plans to cut similar conditions at government or independent schools.
She said the teachers had not taken the strike action lightly.
“We haven’t taken this kind of action in 10 years,” she said. “But after 12 weeks of negotiations with employers, they are not moving away from their proposal.
“It is hoped that this intervention will force the employer to negotiate around current salaries and conditions rather than those contained in their draconian proposal.”
The Assumption School teacher and union representative Tracy Stevens said parents had been quite supportive of the strike action.
“We have 14 staff here and only about four teachers left back at school to supervise,” she said yesterday.
“Parents have been quite positive about it. When we handed out flyers from IEU, we only had supportive feedback.”
Mrs Stevens also commented on the lack of consultation about the proposed agreement and added that cuts to conditions could deter teachers from seeking employment at Catholic schools.
“It has taken a long time for the Catholic system to get even with the conditions offered by the Department of Education; we should not be cutting them back,” she said.
She said those at the rally did not want students to suffer because of cuts to conditions and wanted to protect quality teaching and learning.
“The people here are serious about this. They are not just going to stand by and are not going to sign any agreement we don’t think is right and fair.”