The following protest was held on 28/02/2008, in Glen Waverley, outside Maxine Moran's office. The speaker was AEU Victoria, Branch Secretary Brian Henderson.
Not only are Victorian teachers the worst paid in Australia, they have not had a pay increase since October 2006.
"There are over a thousand teachers on strike today."
"We're here today for the fact that we should not have to be here today."
As the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2004 was due to expire in 2007, the AEU submitted proposals for a new agreement in 2006.
"We served a lot of claims on the government in December 2006 so that we would have plenty of time to negotiate an agreement before the agreement expired in August last year."
"Well, we sat through ten months of negotiations with the department bureaucrats and during all that time all they offered us is 3.25 per cent and no other improvements whatsoever."
Premier John Brumby and Education Minister Bronwyn Pike still refuse to sit down and negotiate a new agreement to address widespread teacher shortages and to reduce class sizes.
"The AEU will not be complicit in slashing teacher numbers and increasing class size as your position dictates. The Labour Government was elected to repair the damage done to education by the Kennett Government, not to repeat the same carnage in the name of productivity cost offsets."
Productivity cost offsets would include a teacher reduction, increased class sizes or a combination of both.
"So again, the minister is confirming that the only way the teachers can get more than 3.25 per cent is productivity cost offsets and so, since we've begun negotiations in March last year, that's been the government's position, it still remains the government's position."
Victorian teachers have been left with no option but to continue industrial action.
"We want Victorian children to receive a world-class education."
"We've said all along it is going to be a long campaign because we have an intransigent government. This is the third day of stoppages - they all received really good media coverage. We intend to keep going for the whole thirty-five days of rolling regional stoppages to continue to put the pressure on the government to come up with a decent negotiating position that recognizes the professionalism and commitment of teachers."
What do we want? A fair deal - When do we want it? Now!
Teacher shortage not okay, large class sizes not the way!
What do we want? A fair deal - When do we want it? Now!
References
'Strike to continue for next two school terms', The Advertiser, 26 February 2008
Written, Filmed, Edited, Produced and Directed by Adam Basile.
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Ambos Start Industrial Action Fridayby LHMUVICTORIA2,369 views
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