Pay and conditions negotiations for Tasmanian education staff fail, forcing school closures

Most Tasmanian public schools will close for half a day this Friday, as workers walk off the job due to failed wages and conditions negotiations for school support staff.

It comes amid ongoing discussions for other education staff, who also want wages in line with the rest of Australia, and issues like rising violence in schools are addressed.

It will be the second time in two months that strikes have forced the closure of schools.

Tasmanian President of the Australian Education Union, David Genford, said union members "didn't want to interrupt school at all", but that the government was refusing necessary investment in the public sector.

"It's really disappointing we're in the position that we feel the need to do this," Mr Genford told ABC Mornings.

Education Minister Jo Palmer said that disappointment was reciprocal. 

"Every minute of learning is really precious," she said.

Here's what you should know.

When will schools close?

On Friday, December 12, there will be three actions around Tasmania, in Burnie, Launceston and Hobart.

Due to the strike, most public schools will be closed in the morning, opening at midday.

Information can be found on the education department's website, although schools are expected to communicate directly with families around closures. 

Education Minister Jo Palmer said pre-planned end-of-year activities would go ahead where possible. 

Who is striking and why?

All education union members are striking, but this Friday's action is in support of school support staff, who Mr Genford said are "the people that are due a pay rise now".

School support staff include teachers' assistants, cleaners, lab technicians, library assistants and admin staff.

In support, teachers will also walk off the job.

"Our teachers are seeing how our support staff are being treated, and they don't want to stand by and let that happen," Mr Genford said.

Aside from wages, other key union concerns are high workloads and rising violence in schools.

Department figures revealed during budget estimates hearings showed incidents of school violence had nearly tripled between 2022 and 2024, with one teacher saying attacks from students had left her concussed and requiring medical attention.

Is anything changing?

Ms Palmer said the department had been working on "a number of strategies" to reduce workload, from "capping the number of school meetings" and "trying to limit the amount of administration for principals and teachers".

She also said a working group to address school violence had been set up — which is listed in the union's log of claims.

Ms Palmer said she was working to address key union concerns around high workloads and rising violence in schools. 

She did not comment on whether a higher pay rise would be offered.

Mr Genford said the government needed to "want to spend money in education", and to "want to actually fix things such as the workload and the violence that's happening at schools".

"We have seen some movement when it comes with dealing with the [education] department — what we haven't seen is a movement from the government," he said.

Public sector workers have expressed that they feel overlooked by the government while it spent money on other projects and politicians were entitled to a pay increase.

Is this the last strike?

More strikes could be possible if the parties don't come to an agreement.

Mr Genford said some meetings in December had lasted five or six hours to no avail, saying the government had told the union its requests were unaffordable.

Both the AEU and Education Minister have recognised the impact on Tasmanians, with Mr Genford saying not only employees, but those relying on the sector's services would "suffer".

"It's disappointing that there will be impacts to student learning. There will also be impacts to families and indeed to small businesses," Ms Palmer said.