Teachers and parents (background) were prepared to take action for the sake of their school. (Foreground) Federation Representative Lynne Lamerton-Quinn with Londonderry MP Allan Shearan, who gave full support to proposed industrial action.

Industrial threat brings maintenance action

By Henry Rajendra

The threat of industrial action has forced the Department of Education and Training (DET) to cave in to maintenance demands by Lethbridge Park PS teachers.

The school's maintenance problems include a build-up of bird faeces, leaking roofs, mould in classrooms and drainage problems. Despite assurances from DET earlier in the year that the school's maintenance issues would be addressed, the school was left short changed part way through the works when everything came to a halt.

Federation Representative Lynne Lamerton-Quinn called a Federation meeting at which they requested Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt to intervene and provide additional funds from the State Government to cover the repair costs. The Minister ignored this and subsequent pleas for help. As a result, Federation members declared that they would stop work for 24 hours and travel to the Minister's office to seek a meeting with her.

Ms Lamerton-Quinn said the Minister had visited the school earlier in the year and saw firsthand the substandard conditions of the buildings and classrooms.

"Ignoring our concerns for the wellbeing of all teachers and students is deplorable and will not be tolerated," Ms Lamerton-Quinn said.

The threat of industrial action and significant local media forced the hand of the DET to resolve the matter well before the planned 24 hour strike, which as a result was called off.

A written guarantee has been given that the outstanding maintenance issues will be fixed by the end of June.

Further, the campaign was boosted with the full backing of the Londonderry MP Allan Shearan for the proposed industrial action.

"While we welcomed the intervention of the DET and the support of our local member to resolve this matter, the teachers remain outraged the Minister for Education and Training, Carmel Tebbutt, had never replied to the numerous letters seeking her intervention," Ms Lamerton-Quinn said.

Ms Lamerton-Quinn said that whilst it was evident that our teachers and parents care for the kids and the learning environment in which they work, it appeared from her initial response that Minister Tebbutt does not, washing her hands of responsibility until action was threatened.

The maintenance backlog is a significant issue across the state.

Ms Lamerton-Quinn praised the commitment of her colleagues and the strong support from parents.

"This, I would imagine, is not just an issue for our school. I look forward to other schools in the area and across the state taking on the State Government for more funding to repair and maintain public school infrastructure," Ms Lamerton-Quinn said.

Lethbridge Park Public School teachers have put the State Government on notice that at any time the works cease leaving unfinished repairs, the teachers are prepared to reignite the campaign and commit to industrial action.

Henry Rajendra is the Membership Officer/Organiser.

Direct action needed on appalling school maintenance

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