By LAURA WAKELY
THE STREETS of Melbourne were covered by a sea of red as teachers went on strike last Wednesday.
Thousands of teachers from across the state converged on Rod Laver Arena before taking their fight up to Parliament House.
Led by the Australian Education Union (AEU), teachers are calling for a 30 per cent pay rise over three years and for Premier Ted Baillieu to honour his promise of making Victorian teachers the best paid in the nation.
More than 10 schools in the West closed, while others were affected by staff shortages for the strike.
A teacher from the western suburbs, who did not want to be identified, said it wasn’t the money that motivated her decision to strike.
“We love our students and work our guts out for them, but even the best teacher can only do so much without time and resources,” she said.
“A school should not be run like a business, because it isn’t. It’s a service.”
She said young teachers were often put on contracts for years and had little job security, while schools couldn’t afford to promote or hire experienced teachers and support staff, including integration aides, who were also undervalued.
“They tell us we should be working as a team, then offer a system in which we’re encouraged to work alone. They say they want to attract the best and then that we should be doing this for pure altruism, not money.
“Did you know they are planning to pay according to subject?
“Maths and science teachers would get more. This is pure business, thinking that just doesn’t work in this occupation.”
Victorian Teaching Minister Peter Hall slammed the strike action as disruptive, and denied teachers would be forced to compete with one another.
Mr Hall said the Government’s plan would see a 2.5 per cent pay rise and a “substantial bonus” for 70 per cent of teachers who performed well.
“The Government never walked away from negotiations and we have been waiting for the union to return to the table,” Mr Hall said.
The Coalition Government is dedicated to raising standards in our schools. We want a constructive discussion with teachers about how we can make this happen together.”
