Teachers Federation members at Maitland Grossmann High School have walked off the job today over the impact the state-wide shortage of teachers is having on their school.
NSW Teachers Federation Deputy President Henry Rajendra said staff walked out because of the lack of action from the NSW Government to properly staff our public schools.
"Maitland Grossmann High School staff are extremely concerned about the workload and staffing inadequacies at their school and across NSW," Mr Rajendra said.
"Casual teacher shortages, particularly in specialist areas, are a major issue at Maitland Grossman High School and are crippling our schools across the state."
"School counsellors, like all specialist teachers, do an incredible job but are toiling under unsustainable workloads and staff at Maitland say schools do not have sufficient counsellor entitlement to meet student needs."
Mr Rajendra said the Gallop Inquiry into the work of teachers found earlier this year that uncompetitive salaries for teachers and unsustainable workloads are leading to teacher shortages."
"The workloads of teachers have increased every year, but their salaries have fallen every year compared to other professions."
"You can't fix the shortages without fixing the wages and workload problem."
"If we don't pay teachers what they are worth, we won't get the teachers we need."
