- by Naruaki Cann
- The Guardian
- Issue #2006
“MORE THAN THANKS”, the message that over 15,000 teachers had for the NSW government and specifically for NSW Premier Dominic Perrotet at Hyde Park on 4th May. The Teachers’ Federation rallied and marched to NSW Parliament in response to a shockingly low predetermined 2.04 per cent pay rise from the government. Such a paltry sum in the face of the seemingly ceaseless inflation that Australian workers have faced – 51 per cent in the last year.
As the march started a sea of red flooded the streets to NSW Parliament as our teachers donned their “More Than Thanks” t-shirts. Alongside the Teachers’ Federation in sizable contingents were members of the National Tertiary Education Union and Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union, an incredible sight of solidarity within our labour movement. Major demands of the day included a 5-7.5 per cent pay rise and extra planning time for lessons. Our teachers deserve much better and this was a great show of force. A “thank you” does not cut it for our teachers who have struggled so much in their industry during the pandemic.
