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Tasmanian teachers, health workers, firefighters and other public sector employees in the state's north-west have walked off the job, as the fight over pay and conditions intensifies. Further action is planned for Launceston and the rest of the north tomorrow, and then in the state's south on Thursday. The tension has been brewing for weeks, with unions rebuking the state government's temporary offer of a 3 per cent pay rise for the first year, while they negotiate a long-term deal. The government offer also includes changes to leave, including parental, medical, reproductive, gender affirmation and pregnancy loss entitlements. But it has been rejected, with workers claiming they had been treated with "contempt", pushing hundreds to rally at Burnie and Devonport. Hellyer College teacher Ronan Douglas addressed the crowd, detailing how dispirited teachers were feeling as their workload mounts. "It's quite crushing," Mr Douglas said. "Day to day, we're catching up on emails, we're doing wellbeing referrals, we're checking attendance, we're following up with phone calls, checking in with parents, checking in with staff, doing professional learning, and just otherwise trying to mark, plan lessons." He said much of that work, and far more, was done out of hours. The Australian Education Union member said the government needed to not only increase pay, but prioritise smaller class sizes and protect planning time. "We're really feeling undervalued, under-respected, and it's really important that the government looks at us, and respects us for the work that we're doing," Mr Douglas said. Public schools in the north-west did not open their doors until 11am on Tuesday. Unions claim Tasmanian teachers' pay is more than 5 per cent behind the mainland. They are calling for a 10 per cent increase in the first year, and 5 per cent in subsequent years. "The reality is the government have to take this seriously and stop mocking workers with pathetic offers like they have been so far." A major sticking point is the recent 22 per cent pay bump for Tasmanian parliamentarians, which was recommended by the state's Industrial Commission after a seven-year pay freeze. The Liberal government had tried to stop the pay increase but a motion to keep pay frozen failed to pass after Labor and upper house independents did not support it. The pay rise for politicians equates to a 3.1 per cent increase over each of the seven frozen years. "Telling workers on very low wages that they can afford just a 3 per cent pay rise is an absolute disgrace; I've never seen a more hypocritical line from a government in my life," Mr Moore said. He said a larger pay increase would be better for the state budget, because the health system would not have to pay hefty overtime rates and exorbitant locum doctor fees. "It's the recruitment and retention issues that mean that we are working short in our hospitals and across our health system everyday, so we need decent wages and conditions," he said. "We can't afford to let this fail. If the government doesn't deliver decent wages and conditions, we will not be able to deliver health services to the community." Hospital staff say situation is 'the worst it's ever been' Dayna French, who has works in food services at the North West Regional Hospital for 28 years, said employees were "struggling" with low wages and short staffing. "It's the worst it's ever been," she said. "We do feel overlooked a lot, all of us. "They don't think much of us, but we are the backbone of the hospital. Without food services or domestics or orderlies, there is no hospital." Government 'disappointed' Government minister Felix Ellis defended the offer, saying it was "fair and affordable", and above the inflation rate. "We're disappointed that strike action is being taken today," Mr Ellis said. "Particularly when it comes to the school strikes, because every school day matters … this strike is disruptive, it's disruptive for students, it's also disruptive for parents and small businesses. The strikes will continue in the north on Wednesday, and the south on Thursday.
