Upwards of 750 IEU members fervently sang a reworked version of union anthem Solidarity Forever as they rallied in Wickham Park before marching to the Catholic Schools Office on Hunter Street.
Teachers and support staff travelled from across the Hunter to celebrate all those who work in schools, and to call on government and employers to address the uncompetitive pay and unsustainable workloads that are driving teachers from the profession and creating chronic disruptions in schools.
Support staff called on employers to match their salaries with those of their counterparts in government schools. They demanded backpay not phase-in, and a formal acknowledgement by Catholic employers that they have been undervalued and underpaid.
