THE Australian Education Union has planned further stop-work action over its industrial dispute with the State Government.
It follows a conciliation meeting between the two parties yesterday after a request by Treasurer Rob Lucas to the SA Employment Tribunal.
The stalemate has been ongoing with the government offer rejected in June, resulting in a full-day strike on July 1.
Following yesterday’s directions hearing, AEU SA president Howard Spreadbury confirmed planned one-hour stoppages were backed by members and would go ahead over the next three weeks.
Mr Spreadbury said geographical areas met as a group to discuss a date which “best fit” the location.
“The Lower South East are planned to begin their rally at Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell’s office on September 19,” Mr Spreadbury said.
“The Upper South East are planned to begin their rally the week after on September 25 at Member for MacKillop Nick McBride’s office.
“Each site will vary but it was agreed to start stop-work actions during the last hour of the school day.”
Mr Spreadbury said public education sites may have plans in place to prevent the stop-work action from disrupting students’ learning.
“It will be the school or preschool’s decision to do so,” he said.
“Schools will inform parents and caretakers on what they decided.
“There may be a range of local faculties which will have to accommodate around the stoppages.”
Mr Spreadbury said he hoped the continued pressure on the government would allow for a resolution.
“We are obviously waiting for a suitable offer to come forward as the last one was not,” he said.
“The will be an executive meeting on Monday to ascertain the state of play once we have had more time in conciliation.”
Treasurer Rob Lucas said the government was calling on the union to immediately call off its planned rolling stoppages to allow for the conciliation process to take its course.
“It’s now abundantly clear the union bosses from the AEU would much prefer to carry on their circus and cause maximum chaos and confusion for hard-working students, parents and grandparents than sit down sensibly and try and resolve this protracted dispute,” Mr Lucas said.
The government’s offer includes a 2.35pc pay rise for teachers and $42m over four years for extra classroom support.
