Teachers on strike

SCHOOLS across the Dandenong Ranges were expected to be disrupted today (Tuesday) by staff members taking time off to protest against the Federal Government’s proposed industrial relations reforms.
Emerald Secondary College principal Wayne Burgess said about a third of staff would miss school to protest and classes would be cancelled accordingly.
Mr Burgess would not be joining protesters, but defended his teachers’ right to take action, calling it ‘a matter of personal choice’.
Monbulk Secondary College principal Pam Glover estimated that between 60 and 65 per cent of staff would be absent and no classes would run for years eight, nine and 10.
The secondary school principals said the disruption would not affect exams being taken by year seven and 11 students.
Meanwhile, Emerald Primary School principal Terry Simpson said more than half of his staff would be involved in protests.
“I understand the teachers’ concerns and their desire to protest against the legislation,” Mr Simpson said.
However, some schools said the protests would have no impact on them.
A spokesman for Education Minister Lynne Kosky said that supervision would be provided if any parents wanted their children to attend school and that the minister hoped families would not be put out.
“The proposed laws are not family friendly and they would disadvantage working families in the Dandenong Ranges.
“It is one day of protest that may put families out, but if the new laws go through they will adversely affect working families in the days, weeks and months to come,” the spokesman said.
Liberal La Trobe MP Jason Wood defended the proposed IR reforms and said they were in the long-term interests of the country and its students.
“I want reforms in place to encourage employers to employ more people.
“As students graduate they’ll have more chance of getting a job,” he said.