September 5, 2012
St Mary’s Catholic College in Kingaroy is one of 169 Catholic schools throughout Queensland that will be affected tomorrow by a 24-hour strike called by teachers and other staff as part of a wage campaign.
St Mary’s Principal Michael Nayler has written to parents asking that children be kept at home if possible.
He said the school would be “significantly affected” by the industrial action.
“At this stage I am asking that you keep your children at home on that day. If you are unable to make alternative arrangements for the care of your children the school will provide supervisory care on that day,” he said.
Mr Nayler has asked parents to notify the school today (Wednesday) if children will be attending school tomorrow.
He told southburnett.com.au that supervisory care and a modified program of activities would be available.
St Mary’s staff voted in favour of Protected Industrial Action following a ballot of union members.
The action is a consequence of Enterprise Agreement negotiations involving teachers, school officers and ancillary staff.
The protected action ballot order was approved by Fair Work Australia and the industrial action has been authorised by a secret ballot of employees, where at least 50 per cent of union members voted.
Staff at St Patrick’s Primary School in Nanango and St Joseph’s School in Murgon voted against taking strike action so classes at these schools will not be affected and parents are asked to send their children to school as normal.
Staff at St John’s Lutheran School in Kingaroy are covered by a different Enterprise Agreement and are not involved in this campaign.
