Teachers in the Tamworth and Armidale areas will stop work on Monday, in a bid to fight for their right for arbitration. The industrial action will run for half a day, with staff expected to return to schools at about lunch time.

The action is part of rolling strikes in schools across NSW and the ACT as a feud between Catholic employers and the Independent Education Union over the right to enter into arbitration over disputes continues.

The union says the strike is the last resort because Catholic employers have “failed to respond to the Independent Education Union’s attempt to negotiate for almost a year”.

Union members will also rally, to highlight their cause. 

Branch secretary John Quessy said the right of the union to take disputes to arbitration by an independent umpire was a basic workers’ right being denied by employers.

“Without the right to arbitration, enterprise agreements are compromised," he said. 

“While we are loathe to take any action which disturbs students’ education, it’s crucial that employers cannot stop the Union seeking a hearing at the Fair Work Commission.”

In a letter to staff, Armidale Catholic Schools director Chris Smyth said the ballot had shown the majority of the staff chose not to take industrial action.

“It was very concerning, however, to learn the Independent Education Union (IEU) has been less than clear about these results on its website,” the letter said.

The letter stated the dispute resolution clause in the new staff agreement had not changed from the existing agreement and was successful in conflict resolution for the last seven years.

“However if, for some reason, it does stop working throughout the life of this new agreement, the Diocese will be happy to work with you and your union to find ways to improve it,” the letter said. 

The teachers will vote on the new agreement later this term.