Tasmanian Teachers Strike Over Pay Deal

It's March 22. From your city to your ears, this is Adelaide News Today, powered by AI.

Public schoolteachers in Tasmania are walking off the job this week after turning down the state government's latest pay deal.

That means closures at public schools across the state, starting with the Northwest on Tuesday, then the North on Wednesday, and the South on Thursday.

The union rejected the offer, even though they called it a step in the right direction.

It included 3% raises in the first two years, and 2.75% in the third, plus some incentives.

But key problems remain, like unclear wording on job cuts and no solid fixes for teacher workloads.

Union leaders say they gave plenty of notice more than two weeks ago, so families could plan.

Still, the Education Minister calls the strikes really disappointing, pointing out the disruption to kids learning, families, and local businesses.

She insists the deal covers what teachers want, like more school psychologists and better professional development funding.

The union, though, wants it put to a vote and clear commitments before agreeing.

Talks are ongoing as both sides push for a fair resolution that keeps classrooms open for good.