BRIEF, AUSTRALIA
NSW teachers strike
Kerry Smith
6 September 2008
On September 2, 20,000 teachers across New South Wales stopped work for two hours.
The strike was part of the ongoing staffing, salaries and standards campaign being organised by the NSW Teachers Federation (NSWTF), in response to the state governments inadequate 2.5% pay increase for public servants, as well as the teacher transfer system.
At Sky Channel meetings, 99.8% of teachers rejected the governments offer, according to the NSWTF website. While the union is demanding a 5% per year wage increase over three years, at various Sky Channel meetings across Sydney, that was amended by those present to 10% a year.
Teachers resolved to maintain the pressure with more action throughout the year, including a series of full-day strikes, if the government does not meet their demands.