Today, just days before a requested and planned negotiation meeting, unions have threatened further industrial action designed to shut down schools and childcare centres, as well as disrupt prisons and health services.
These kind of industrial tactics should be immediately be called off. They are completely unacceptable, potentially dangerous and fly in the face of any notion of good faith bargaining.
To ensure all schools and childcare centres remain open, the Government will undertake all steps necessary, including the use of temporary cleaning staff, to ensure they are safe for students.
Last week we offered to meet personally with union leaders to resolve the dispute on the condition that all forms and threats of industrial action cease. It is encouraging that a number of unions have accepted the offer and stopped industrial action in the lead up to Thursday's meetings.
It’s time all union leaders showed the same respect for their members, stop the disruption and stunts so that this week’s negotiation meeting can take place.