THE state government has turned to the Federal Court in a bid to thwart a statewide teachers’ strike planned for next Thursday.
A spokesman for Finance Minister Robert Clark said the government on Monday sought a court injunction against planned industrial action by the Australian Education Union and Community and Public Sector Union.
The government wants to quash the planned strike and bans affecting school camps, excursions, school fetes and sporting activities.
“The issuing of these proceedings follows the unions’ failure to call off industrial action despite being given ample warning of the government’s intentions to issue legal proceedings if the unions persisted in their industrial action,” he said.
Education Department negotiators met AEU officials last week, with “productive” talks continuing this week.
The AEU is pushing for a 12.6 per cent pay rise over three years. The government claims this would cost taxpayers $13 billion but refused to release details on how it reached this figure.
AEU state president Meredith Peace said the union was extremely disappointed the government had launched legal action on the same day it began intense talks to try to resolve the dispute.
“Neither the AEU nor their lawyers had been notified that the Baillieu government had commenced legal actions and they were made aware of the proceedings by the media,” Ms Peace said. “This behaviour raises questions about the government’s willingness and ability to reach agreement with public school staff.”
Catholic school teachers have vowed to join state school teachers in the strike, affecting schools throughout Melbourne’s west and Victoria’s 880,800 students.
— Benjamin Millar with The Age
