Industrial action is designed to be disruptive. To begin, the action usually only affects internal departments. The issue in Tasmania is the fact those actions haven’t had the desired result.
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A reason for this could be the strategy not implemented fully. If the design of the action is to get people to complain to the department, not all parents are getting the message. Feedback from parents and teachers is that complaints about the disruption caused by industrial action has been made between the two parties (teachers and parents) and not to the union or the education department.
The decision for teachers to increase industrial action and turn up late for class will have an impact far reaching – assuming schools will be closed. There are the logistics in terms of public transport of a morning. Students who normally catch the bus may need to find other means of attending school.
Some parents were quick to relish the idea of a late start. A late start would offer a chance to be ready for school with no stress or fuss. For parents working a job with hours from 9am to 5pm that isn’t an option. This industrial action will have an impact on productivity for businesses. While it may be about two hours (depending on where the worker lives and works), collectively the numbers would be quite large.
The state government is refusing to budge despite the escalating industrial action across the public service.
The issue is they are fighting with people with jobs that are some of the most respected in our community – nurses, teachers, paramedics and firefighters. That will be a tough battle to win as people have high praise for this workforce.
The government says the offer of 2 per cent per year for three years is a good offer. Teachers say they are campaigning for more than a pay rise – the action is about teachers having additional support for the wellbeing and development of students.
This action is disruptive. It’s noisy. But will it draw both sides back to the bargaining table? Previous comments by both sides would suggest that the line once drawn in the sand has turned to concrete.