2026-07-01
The ACT Education Directorate has today been forced to backflip on an order for staff to note on their timesheets when they are working but not attending after-school meetings, a form of protected industrial action.
“Education workers have consistently said they simply want the Government to engage with their calls in good faith, but unfortunately, this was an example of the exact opposite,” said Laura Nuttall MLA, ACT Greens Spokesperson for education.
Amidst their ongoing negotiations with the ACT Government, education workers are engaging in further industrial action, which includes not attending any staff meetings after 3:30 PM for this week only, though continuing to work during this time.
One teacher reached out to Miss Nuttall’s office to inform her that the Education Directorate had ordered teaching staff to note this on their timesheets.
“I will still be at school working during that time, so why on earth would I put that on my timesheet?" said the striking teacher, who wished to remain anonymous.
“The Australian Education Union (AEU) is very clear that this order served as a threat, suggesting that these workers could have their pay docked, simply for taking part in protected industrial action,” said Miss Nuttall.
“The Directorate sent this direction to teachers at 5.17pm on Friday without having discussed it with the AEU first at all.
“They then backed down immediately after learning that the AEU had brought the issue to the Fair Work Commission. While we welcome the directorate backing down, ultimately it should never have come to this.
“Right now we have an Education Minister and Minister for the Public Service who say workers have the right to take industrial action in public, and then behind closed doors, they sign off on bad faith practices like this.
“This has been going on for well over a year now, and the community expects educators to be met in good faith. I reiterate that the Government needs to come to the table to negotiate with educators in good faith,” said Miss Nuttall.