Teachers across New South Wales will still walk off the job tomorrow, despite an 11th-hour attempt by the state government to placate the union over pay rises.
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell this morning announced the government had delayed the negotiations on wages until after June's state budget.
Premier Dominic Perrottet had foreshadowed the government's long-standing 2.5 per cent public sector wage cap may be scrapped in the budget, but the wage policy to potentially replace it has yet to be finalised.
The award negotiations for teachers were set to be heard in the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) this month, ahead of the budget.
"I would like IRC determinations to be made after the budget," Ms Mitchell said.
"I have relayed that to the Teachers Federation this morning, in good faith, and asked them to consider their industrial action proposed for tomorrow."
The Minister made the comments alongside the Premier during a visit to Parramatta Public School this morning.
Some teachers walked out the school's front gates, holding union placards, to protest against the visit.
The NSW Teachers Federation remains committed to its strike tomorrow, claiming the government is only offering a vague commitment to change the wage policy.
"There is no guarantee," the federation's president Angelo Gavrielatos said.
"Last week we got a vague announcement by the Premier that they will look at salaries in the context of the budget."
Mr Perrottet said he appreciated the federation's stance.
"What I have said is that we are working through all the industrial issues across the NSW public service," he said.
The government is not only locked in a bitter dispute with teachers, but it is also facing ongoing industrial action from nurses, paramedics, and transport workers.
Any changes to the wage policy are set to be applied across the public sector.
Some public schools will be closed tomorrow, while others will remain open with minimal supervision.
