NSW Labor leader admits teachers union’s pay rise demands unacceptable
State Labor have admitted the laundry list of demands of the Teachers Federation wouldn’t be met were they in government.
Teachers undertook a 24-hour strike on Tuesday, marching on Macquarie Street to demand a 7.5 per cent pay rise.
When pressed by Jim Wilson, NSW Opposition leader Chris Minns confirmed a Labor government “certainly can’t commit” to a pay increase that high.
“I want to make this clear … we wouldn’t respond to agreeing to the log of claims from the Teachers Federation.
“It does require negotiation … and just going out and attacking teachers, saying ‘I don’t want to meet with them’, questioning their motives is not going to solve the situation!”
The Labor leader also addressed the ongoing “basket case” of the transport portfolio, confirming a state government under his leadership would be “absolutely” committed to local manufacturing of trains, trams and ferries.
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