NT teachers begin rolling stoppages

Northern Territory teachers carried out rolling stoppages on May 26-28 as part of their campaign for a new enterprise agreement with the NT government. Teachers also held an after-work rally in Darwin's city centre on May 29.

Teachers have been negotiating with the government for a new agreement since September 2007. They want a 15% wage increase over two years and a $5000 professional isolation allowance for staff at the more remote NT schools, to cover increased travel and housing costs.

The Australian Education Union is also calling for lower class sizes, greater access to professional development courses for teachers in more remote areas and the employment of more support staff to assist teachers.

The latest stop-work actions are part of an ongoing industrial campaign by the union, during which teachers in the NT took strike action on March 31. Further rolling stoppages are planned.

From GLW issue 753