Catholic teachers join in pay case strike

The
Catholic Weekly
Online

Sydney
30 May 2004

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Catholic teachers join in pay case strike

By Damir Govorcin

Teachers from NSW Catholic schools were expected to strike on Friday (May 28) over the Carr Government’s intervention in a NSW Teachers Federation wage case.

The situation came to a head after the Government sought to provide further information to the Industrial Relations Commission – including details of a $376 million Commonwealth grants shortfall – to support its case that it is unable to afford substantial pay rises. The teachers want a 25 per cent rise over two years; the Government has offered only six per cent.

[Last year, the Industrial Relations Commission awarded teachers an interim 5.5 per cent pay rise over six months; a final decision on the increase is due on June 30.]

Dick Sherman, secretary of the NSW/ACT Independent Education Union, says Catholic teachers took strike action due to the anger they felt over the government’s attempt to influence the commission.

In a letter to systemic school principals, Br Kelvin Canavan, executive director of schools for the Sydney archdiocese, said he respects the right of teachers to stop work in appropriate circumstances. However, it is important that “the awareness of teachers be raised in taking such action”.

It is advisable that any strike action be “managed in such a way that the impact of it on the parents of our students is considered”, Br Kelvin said.