Meetings today in a bid to head off teachers' strike

00-00-0000
Meetings today in a bid to head off teachers' strike

Queensland government negotiators will meet with teachers today in a bid to head offindustrial action that's threatening to disrupt classes.

Teachers at some schools have already held stop work meetings during class time overtheir ongoing pay dispute.

And more such meetings have been threatened for today and tomorrow, with other schoolslining up for next week.

Today's negotiations come ahead of tomorrow's face-off at the Industrial RelationsCommission over the wage dispute.

The union wants a rise of eight per cent a year, 17.5 hours of student contact timeper week and assurances over class sizes and behaviour management.

The government has offered a pay rise of 3.5 per cent a year.

Industrial Relations Minister GORDON NUTTALL says the teachers' claim is unrealistic.

But Queensland Teachers' Union president JULIE-ANN MCCULLOUGH says teachers are preparedto fight for their demands, warning a state-wide day of action within a few weeks is areal possibility.

AAP RTV ch/tnf/jas

KEYWORD: TEACHERS (BRISBANE)