Educators previously took part in a two-hour stoppage. Photo: AEU ACT.
The ACT Education Directorate has confirmed all public schools will be closed on Thursday, 11 June, due to strike action by union members.
The strike action had already been flagged by the Australian Education Union (AEU) ACT branch unless the government came back with a “serious offer”.
It’s been confirmed that the protected industrial action will go ahead as planned.
“We again expect the majority of our ACT public school staff to take part in this work stoppage and we will be unable to guarantee safe and appropriate supervision of all students on site during this time,” Education Directorate director-general Jo Wood said.
“This means that on Thursday, 11 June, all ACT public schools will be closed. There will be no on-site supervision for students.”
This includes specialist schools and preschools.
It follows the two-hour stoppage on 22 May.
Ms Wood said she understood and acknowledged the school closures would have “significant impacts” on families, but the directorate didn’t have any other options at this time.
“This decision has not been taken lightly. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority,” she said.
“We are letting families know about this decision as early as possible in order to help people plan ahead as best they can. If you have any questions or concerns about how this closure will impact your school, please contact your school directly.”
Out-of-school hours care services have also been informed of the closure, and it’s expected that individual services will be in touch with families about any service provisions on 11 June.
AEU ACT school assistant members will also be taking part in the action.
Branch secretary Patrick Judge previously said educators couldn’t wait any longer while schools struggled with chronic understaffing, escalating workload pressures and inadequate support for students.
“What we are asking the government to deliver isn’t aspirational. We’re asking for them to commit to the minimum staffing for our schools. We’re asking for recognition of the extra resources that some students require to succeed,” he said.
“We’re asking to be safe at work. We’re not asking the government to be generous. We’re just asking the government to be honest.”
Experienced teacher and principal Peter Kent said educators had reached a point where they could no longer absorb the failures of the system.
“That is why we must be the red line that says: no more. No more pretending that overwork is professionalism. No more expecting Principals and educators to endlessly absorb the inadequacies of a system under strain,” he said.
Original Article published by Claire Fenwicke on Region Canberra.
