Mike Byrne
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A 24 hour teachers' strike today over a pay dispute will hit some of Brisbane's Catholic schools and close at least six schools in Queensland, the Courier Mail reports.
Some schools will shut while others will remain open with supervision only. Some will shut down two or three year levels but keep other classes running, the report added. It will affect a total of 87 schools.
The 133 schools under Brisbane's Catholic Education will remain open, and Rockhampton and Townsville dioceses schools will also be unaffected.
Brisbane's striking teachers will meet at the Irish Club at 10am and march to the QCEC's office in Edward St to protest. An after school rally also will be held at the Brisbane Catholic Education office at Dutton Park at 4pm, the news report said.
It also published a list of schools, and how each will be affected by the strike.
The Queensland Catholic Education Commission website reports its Executive Director Mike Byrne as saying that while Catholic school authorities respect the right of employees to take industrial action they are disappointed the union has opted to pursue action over a wage claim at this time.
"In good faith, Catholic school employers paid a 4.5 percent pay increase to all teachers and support staff from May this year," Mr Byrne said.
"Historically and where possible the Catholic sector has tried to provide comparability with the government sector for our employees.
"Industrial action should be a last resort when an employer is behaving unreasonably or no longer willing to negotiate and that is certainly not the case here," Mr Byrne said.
FULL STORY
Catholic school teachers strike over pay (couriermail.com.au)
Catholic school employers disappointed by strike action (Queensland Catholic Education Commission)
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