Public schools across the city will operate under minimal supervision on Thursday morning, while teachers walk off the job to attend a union meeting.
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The NSW Teachers Federation organiser for the Riverina, John Pratt confirmed the 'broadcast meeting' will be part of a statewide initiative. Across the state, up to 60,000 union members will come together to review contract agreements proposed by the Department of Education.
In Wagga, the meeting will take place at the Tolland Hotel between 8.45am and 10am, and is expected to attract up to 300 teachers.
"We will be looking for our salaries to be made the maximum allowable, which is 2.5 per cent each year, with no loss of commissions," Mr Pratt told The Daily Advertiser.
Mr Pratt further said that the union is hoping to bring non-teaching members, including school counsellors, under the same award.
"We want [all] staff to be in line with the performance and development framework, which will mean they can progress along the same salary scale," Mr Pratt said.
While the meeting is allocated to go for a maximum of two hours, Mr Pratt expressed confidence that it would be much shorter.
"It might be finished in half-an-hour, it might go for the full two hours, it depends on how much members need to respond to," he said.
"There could be venues [around the state] where the debate does extend two hours, but I don't believe that will be the case locally."
The federation has encouraged all members to attend and participate in the negotiations, but Mr Pratt said efforts have been made to allow for school to continue in their absence.
"We request as many [members] to attend, but we know that there's a lot going on at this time of the year, so we're not requesting special activities at schools be abandoned by any stretch of the imagination," Mr Pratt said.
"We don't want to create concern for parents. There should be no concern, normal programs will commence when teachers return.
"It will be down to minimal supervision, but students can still go to school. Normal classes may be impacted for a minimal time."
When contacted for comment, the NSW Department of Education said via a spokesperson on Wednesday morning: "Schools will operate as normal on Thursday. All students will be supervised during the NSW Teachers Federation meeting."