Public schools in the St George and Sutherland Shire were without the majority of their teachers this morning, as teachers walked off the job to discuss pay issues.
The NSW Teachers Federation, which represents more than 70,000 teachers across the state, planned the stop-work meeting for 8.45am this morning and it lasted until mid-morning. All public primary schools and high schools in the St George and Sutherland Shire were affected.
The NSW Teachers Federation said teachers voted to accept a salary offer from the NSW Department of Education during the meetings, which will see a 2.5 per cent annual pay increase as well as all current working conditions maintained in the new award.
A total of 211 meetings were held across the state this morning with teachers watching a televised message before voting.
NSW Teachers Federation president Maurie Mulheron said 99 per cent of teachers had voted to accept the department’s offer.
An offer was made to the NSW Teachers Federation on November 28 which included pay increases of 2.5 per cent per year, consistent with the NSW Public Sector Wages Policy for a three-year award commencing from January 2017.
St Georges Teachers Association, which falls under the NSW Teachers Federation, executive Glenn Hokin said although they had voted to accept the deal teachers were concerned about the current state of education in NSW and a lack of funding.
