NSW Teachers to Push Through With Wednesday Strike

Members of the New South Wales Teachers Federation will defy the NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) order and stage a strike on Wednesday, June 27. The strike is expected to close 2,200 state schools and affect 760,000 NSW students.

The tutors said their decision to walk off the job is due to the refusal of the NSW government to change its position on the Local Schools Local Decisions policy.

The policy plans to grant principals more power to control up to 70 per cent of a school's budget and hire up to 50 per cent of school staff. The union said the policy actually aims to cut costs, but is disguised as an increase in decision making powers for local schools.

"We're confident that the majority of parents will understand that we cannot stand by and allow our students' education to be cut by this government," NSW Teachers Federation Deputy President Gary Zadkovich was quoted by AAP.

He said if the state government would continue with its political deceit, the teachers would initiate more industrial action to defend the students.

NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli said by pursuing industrial action despite the IRC order, the union could be penalised. Justice Michael Walton of the IRC cautioned the teachers from striking because such an action is not in the public interest.

IRC rules allow the commission to impose a $10,000 fine for defying its order.