ACT Public Schools to Close as Teachers Strike Over Pay and Working Conditions
All ACT public schools will close on Thursday, June 11, due to a full-day strike by teachers and school staff over unresolved pay negotiations. This marks the second strike action in 15 years, following a two-hour stoppage in May, with core disputes centered on staffing levels, workloads, and class sizes. The closure affects thousands of families and students across the territory as negotiations between the Education Directorate and the Australian Education Union remain at an impasse.
The ACT Education Directorate announced the closure of all public schools on Thursday, June 11, in response to planned industrial action by members of the Australian Education Union. The strike follows a two-hour work stoppage on May 22, the first such action by ACT teachers in 15 years. Union members voted to escalate to a full-day strike after the government failed to address key concerns including staffing shortages, increasing workloads, and rising class sizes. Education Minister Yvette Berry acknowledged that a promised review into pay classification had not progressed as intended and apologized for the delay. The directorate stated that no on-site supervision would be available and that schools would adjust assessments and activities as needed to prevent student disadvantage. School buses will continue operating on their normal schedules, though out-of-school care providers are expected to contact families about their operations.
What's missing
The specific salary demands or proposed pay increases sought by the union are not detailed in the article. Additionally, the government's counter-proposal or position on the core issues of staffing, workloads, and class sizes is not explicitly stated beyond acknowledgment of negotiation progress.
What different sources said
- ABC AustraliaCenter
ACT public schools to close entirely tomorrow as staff strike over pay
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