grodscorp@grods.com
Yesterday Victorian teachers stopped work in support of a pay rise that is above the rate of inflation and that reflects the fact that we are the lowest paid teachers in the country, a reduction in the number of teachers (20%) on short-term contracts, and smaller class sizes. I met my comrades from work at 8:30am for a couple of lattes before jumping on a tram to the city. Even though Craig isn’t a teacher, but a self-employed IT technician, he gave his boss the finger and went on a sympathy strike.
As we walked along the Yarra River towards the Vodafone Arena we sung The Internationale and swore pledges of allegiance to Marxism and Che Guevara.
Upon arrival at the Vodafone Arena we were heartened by the sea of workers proudly dressed in the colour of socialism.
After listening to stirring speeches about the evils of capitalism and unthinkingly endorsing whatever resolutions the union leadership told us to we marched as one towards Parliament House.
At Parliament House we shouted, screamed and snarled to let Premier John Brumby know how angry we were.
After chanting some witty slogans we did what all good teachers do in the afternoon of a strike day: we hit the piss.
GrodsThink Ep.31 (16/9/08)
Friday 15 February 2008, 9:14 pm #Bruce
Here’s some vintage gold from one of
the scabsyour fellow teachers on why he left the AEU.“They stopped trying to get pay increases and started trying to save the dolphins.”
Still, he could hit the piss pretty hard. He also tried hitting me with the bottle after he’d finished…
Friday 15 February 2008, 9:20 pm #The Editor
Luckily nobody got glassed yesterday. Craig was unusually subdued.
Friday 15 February 2008, 9:27 pm #Bruce
Someone should have mentioned the dolphins. Could have had SOSE vs (non-AEU) PE teachers.
Friday 15 February 2008, 10:18 pm #krypto
dude, you could almost BE Lachlan Connor
Friday 15 February 2008, 10:29 pm #Wah
I dare say it would have been a good perve.
Pay them Brumby, just pay them.
DB
Friday 15 February 2008, 10:49 pm #Mikey
Damn you communists. Next you’ll be wanting a living wage!
Friday 15 February 2008, 11:10 pm #Magic Bellybutton
Dirty, filthy pinkos!
Friday 15 February 2008, 11:16 pm #John Surname
Scum. Back in my day teachers didn’t drink alcohol and spend time with licentious young women. They were upstanding citizens.
Saturday 16 February 2008, 12:43 am #Dave from Albury
I will go against the grain of the previous comments and commend you on your action Ed. I have gone on strike many times over the past few years in an effort to secure better wages and conditions, but as I work in IT no-one has actually noticed my industrial action.
That said, your low pay is the price that you pay for carrying on about what a wonderful place Melbourne is to live. Why do you think that NSW teachers are paid more than you? Here are a few hints, Wee Waa, Marrickville, Auburn, Bourke, Moree, Mt Druitt. Try getting a latte in any of these spots, then thank your lucky stars that education hasn’t been federalised yet.
Saturday 16 February 2008, 12:52 am #krypto
they wouldn’t dick around like that with the BLF, or the Painters and Dockers for that matter.
Maybe it’s time you knocked someone off, got some respect.
No-one big, just a parliamentary secretary or something.
Saturday 16 February 2008, 1:11 am #fred
Well done people.
From a now retired teacher of 32 years experience.
Saturday 16 February 2008, 7:26 am #Damian
Good work, comrades. Craig’s solidarity is inspiring.
Saturday 16 February 2008, 8:00 am #brokenleftleg
But was the hopps for the beer grown be happy comrads on state farms? or was it brewed by shallow capitalists who main aim is to keep the workers docile and subservient?
Saturday 16 February 2008, 8:39 am #The Editor
I feel heartened that my GrodsReader comrades all speak with me as one. Groupthink has never been so noble.
Saturday 16 February 2008, 9:23 am #Magic Bellybutton
Groupthink is noble
Saturday 16 February 2008, 10:51 am #Strider
God! What a load of morons. If they are into Marxism like so, then they are too stupid to teach kids, and too stupid to deserve a payrise.
Then again, they probably can’t do their math anyway, and perhaps that creep Brumby could give them a paycut without them noticing.
Saturday 16 February 2008, 11:00 am #Magic Bellybutton
Groupthink is noble.
Saturday 16 February 2008, 11:33 am #Damian
Strider, can you say that again?
Saturday 16 February 2008, 1:16 pm #John Surname
I’m beginning to think Strider is just an elaborate troll, the way Fang was.
Saturday 16 February 2008, 1:54 pm #krypto
Strider’s clearly an alcoholic
Saturday 16 February 2008, 4:47 pm #Steve D
I briefly considered going along, pretending to be a teacher and getting media coverage by saying stuff like “I work 10 hours a day - that’s like 80 hours a week you know!”
Probably luckily for The Editor’s financial ambitions, I was too lazy. Just as well really; I was wearing a blue shirt on Thursday and would’ve looked slightly out of place :-P
Saturday 16 February 2008, 8:24 pm #kat
no latte?