Tweed teachers go on strike
TEACHERS across Tweed walked off the job this morning as part of a ongoing state wide pay dispute with the NSW government.
Stop work meetings took place at the Murwillumbah Services Club and Twin Towns Services Club.
President of the NSW Teachers Federation Bob Lipscombe said the proposed 2.5% per annum increase was well below the inflation rate of 3.5%, with electricity, rents, groceries and other prices continuing to rise.
"Under the proposal, in the first year a typical teacher's real income will be cut by $17 per week while in the second year, the cut will be around $35 per week," he said.
"By placing teachers on a downward pay spiral, the Government has shown it does not care if it can attract and retain the many thousands of new teachers it needs to replace those retiring next year and in the years to follow.
"This attack on teachers' salaries is in stark contrast to what has happened interstate. In Western Australia, for example, teachers have been offered increases well in excess of those offered in NSW.
"Western Australian teachers are already paid more than teachers in NSW."
