Teachers and support staff at three Dubbo Catholic schools stopped work yesterday morning in protest of an agreement proposed by employers.
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Staff at St John's Primary, St Laurence's Primary and St Pius X Primary stopped work between 8.30am and 9.30am.
The Independent Education Union of Australia (IEU) said the stop-work was to defend quality education from the sub-standard enterprise agreement that would lead to larger class sizes, less time for lesson preparation and fewer resources in the classroom.
A spokeswoman from one of the schools said the industrial action was not about pay, but about working conditions.
"They're trying to change things like the hours. We work from eight to five anyway - you'll very rarely see cars leave the car park before then - and that's going to have a flow-on effect to families," she said.
The spokeswoman said the Catholic employers had been agreeing with the IEU in theory, but had not put anything in writing.
"The idea of today was to send the message to the employers that we're not happy," she said.
"We're not militant, we're not strike people, so to send this message shows people feel quite strongly about it."
The spokeswoman said the employers were also calling for teachers to undertake additional training.
"They want us to have extra study but it's all at your own cost, $1400 to $2000 a year which is a lot of money for something that won't get you anywhere," she said.
IEU Organiser Jackie Greenow said she could not rule out further industrial action if yesterday's strike was unsuccessful.
"I don't have a crystal ball, but if the employers insisted on going forward than the members have an ongoing commitment to support the cause."
However, Ms Greenow said she hoped an agreement could be reached.
"Negotiations are ongoing and we're hopeful the matter can be bought to a successful conclusion."
Cathedral and St Philomena's schools at Bathurst, along with St Mary's Catholic School at Wellington were among those who also took industrial action yesterday.
Yesterday's stop-work was part of a series of strikes occurring across Catholic schools in the ACT and NSW.