Qld Catholic teachers to strike

Teachers have planned a strike at Queensland's most prestigious Catholic schools over a pay dispute.

TEACHERS seeking better pay have planned a strike at a number of Queensland's most prestigious Catholic schools in the middle of exams.

A large number of teachers from the Queensland Independent Education Union (QIEU) will strike on March 24 in their fight to bring their pay in line with other states.

Members of the QIEU are also withdrawing from co-curricular activities from that date indefinitely.

The planned strike comes after Catholic employers recently made what the union says was a "disappointing" revised teacher wage offer that failed to address key concerns of employees.

The union claims that, under the proposal, teachers working in Queensland's Catholic schools would be some of the lowest paid in Australia's non-government sector.

QIEU secretary Terry Burke said it was time for Catholic employers to settle this issue by showing some leadership.

"These negotiations have now been going on for over 12 months and it is time Catholic employers return to the negotiating table," Mr Burke said.

"Taking industrial action again is an absolute last resort."

However, Queensland Catholic Education Commission executive director Mike Byrne said he believed the salary package was fair and responsible.

Mr Byrne said teachers had received a 4.5 per cent increase in May last year and under the current offer would receive further increases of four per cent in July 2010 and July 2011.

"Enhancements have also been made to long service, parental and maternity leave entitlements and position-of-added-responsibility arrangements," Mr Byrne said.

"A new accomplished teacher classification above existing levels for classroom teachers has also been offered."

He said the package was comparable with the state school sector and would place significant pressure on Catholic school budgets.

Eighty-five of the 288 state's Catholic schools will be affected next Wednesday, including 32 in the Toowoomba Diocese, 26 in the Cairns Diocese, along with 27 schools in the Brisbane area.

Mr Byrne said it was unclear how many teachers would take part, as not all were union members.

"Principals will put plans in place to minimise disruption to school programs and to ensure that the school environment is safe and students are not disadvantaged with respect to term exams," Mr Byrne said.