Teachers stop work for Keep The Promise campaign
District teachers and support staff took their collective concerns about pay and conditions to Member for Rodney Paul Weller's office yesterday.
By Ruth Clayton
More than 100 teachers and support staff protested outside Member for Rodney Paul Weller’s office yesterday morning as part of the Australian Education Union’s Keep The Promise campaign.
Wearing red campaign shirts and holding protest signs, AEU members from schools in Echuca, Leitchville, Rochester, Cohuna and Tongala waited outside the office while four AEU members, including deputy president Meredith Peace, discussed teachers’ pay and conditions with Mr Weller.
The AEU says the campaign is aimed to keep Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu accountable for his pledge to make Victoria’s teachers the highest paid in the country.
The union is demanding better wages, better working conditions, reasonable class sizes and non performance-based pay.
Negotiations between the AEU and the Victorian Government over pay and conditions initially broke down on April 19, according to AEU president Mary Bluett.
The AEU said negotiations were back on the table in September and broke down mid-November when the Victorian Government failed to respond to the union’s offer regarding pay.
Addressing the crowd after the discussion, Ms Peace thanked Mr Weller for agreeing to meet with the AEU representatives and said the protest had a ‘‘fantastic turn-out’’.
‘‘I think we got a pretty good hearing this morning,’’ Ms Peace said.
Ms Peace said the government was an unwilling party in negotiations.
She urged protesters to educate community members about what the campaign was about.
‘‘We have to keep campaigning
AEU Echuca region president Geoff Brown also addressed the crowd saying he hoped negotiations would resume as soon as possible.
Echuca College teacher David Armstrong was one of the protesters.
‘‘It (the rally) is for class sizes and conditions that we work under,’’ Mr Armstrong said.
‘‘We put in a lot of hours after school that we don’t get paid for.
‘‘We deserve at least to be paid the same as any other teacher in Australia.’’
The rally was one of the last of a series of 32 statewide stop-work rallies.
The AEU has organised further stop-work action on February 14.
Teachers from Echuca Specialist School, Kristen Haines and Amanda Rosato, hold placards outsite Paul Weller's office yesterday.
Fuel prices hit hard
Benalla's consistently high petrol prices are fuelling discussion.
Frustration abounds in Pigeons win
Most people at the J C Lowe Oval left on Saturday evening talking about the game but not the result. Pigeon Coach Chris Kennedy summed up the feeling adequately when he said after the game; “it was a frustrating game, but my players weren’t responsible for the frustration.”
Fundraiser for Mactier statue
The move to extend the Tatura War Memorial area and honour Victoria Cross hero Robert Mactier with the erection of a statue in the Hogan St gardens named in his honour, continues.
Expensive items at antiques' valuation day
Visiting antique expert Bruce Lowenthal was kept very busy in Echuca on Saturday after about 130 people brought a multitude of items to be evaluated, some of them quite valuable.
Investors buoyed by earlier return
Banksia Securities Limited investors received a 45-cents-in-the-dollar payment on Friday.
Kyabram's young stars shine at awards
The talent of Kyabram and District’s up-and-coming young sports stars was highlighted at the 2013 Kyabram and District Infinity Sportstar of the Year awards night.
Lions trample Echuca by 37 points
Seymour defeated Echuca by 37 points in an excellent effort and a thrilling performance in round six of the Goulburn Valley Football League action on Saturday.
Finley Rec. Reserve funding almost complete
The Finley Apex Sports and Community Centre has secured a $500,000 grant from Regional Development Australia.
Country musician at home on the McIvor Hwy
Much of the inspiration for Heathcote-based musician Doug Bruce's latest album came from driving on the McIvor Hwy, he says.
Police manhunt for Graham Gene Potter
Detectives in pursuit of Australia’s most wanted man have not ruled out Cobram as a possible hiding place.
It's all action for Alan Jackson
Record crowd predicted for the 2013 Deniliquin Ute Muster with the announcement of US country superstar Alan Jackson as the headline act.
Lamb mortality rates under scrutiny
The Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) is investigating incidents of abortion or still-births under the Lamb and Kid Mortality Surveillance Project.(LKSMP).
Rheinmetall inspects region
Representatives of one of the world's largest weapons manufacturers visited Benalla as part of its bid for an Australian Government contract.
Discover unbelievable local deals from local businesses every week in the Goulburn and Murray Valley area with Leapon.com.au!
Search properties for sale or rent across North Central Victoria and Southern NSW. Visit your local website for local homes....
Search for published and unpublished photos from McPherson Media Group newspapers and magazines. All our photos are available to purchase.
Thankyou for your comment.
Your comment will appear once it has been approved by MMG staff.