Nick Everett, Canberra

On March 24, ACT teachers agreed to postpone industrial action planned for this week after ACT education minister Katy Gallagher referred their pay dispute to the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) for conciliation.

This follows a stop-work meeting and rally on March 14 attended by 2500 teachers from the territory’s 300 public schools and the Canberra Institute of Technology. The meeting resolved to reject the March 7 offer from the government, noting that it required teachers to fund their own salary increase through the loss of at least 120 jobs in the secondary sector (a 10% reduction). The teachers decided to commence rolling industrial action from March 28 in support of their claim for a 12% pay increase over three years with no loss in conditions.

The government had declined to negotiate with the Australian Education Union after the union’s rejection of the March 7 “offer”, and threatened to impose harsh new penalties under the new Work Choices legislation that comes into effect on March 27. The IRC will now mediate between the AEU and ACT government for up to three months, in accordance with the old workplace relations laws.

From Green Left Weekly, March 29, 2006.
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