Queensland Catholic Education Commission has defended its salary package offer to teachers who are planning to go on strike in Qld Catholic schools' on March 24, in the middle of exams.
Members of the QIEU will go on strike over what the union said was a "disappointing" revised teacher wage offer that failed to address key concerns of employees, the Herald Sun reports.
Some union members are also withdrawing from co-curricular activities from that date indefinitely, the report adds.
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.
Queensland Catholic Education Commission executive director Mike Byrne said he believed the salary package was fair and responsible, and "lines up very well with the offer that has already been made and accepted by our state school colleagues", according to the ABC.
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 in a statement.
Eighty-five of the 288 state's Catholic schools will be affected next Wednesday. Mr Byrne said it was unclear how many teachers would take part, as not all were union members, the Herald Sun report adds.
FULL STORY AND STATEMENT
Catholic schools stand by pay offer to teachers (ABC)
Teachers to strike during exam period
Salary and Conditions Package 'Fair and Responsible' (Queensland Catholic Education Commission)