BY DAKOTA TAIT
NSW Teachers Federation members across the Hunter will join their colleagues to walk off the job next Wednesday.
It's just a week after Term 2 started.
They've also been permitted to leave the classroom if Government MP's visit their school grounds, and won't adopt new Government policies and initiatives in the classroom.
The union's calling for better pay and improved working conditions, especially as the country records its highest inflation rate in 20 years.
It's understood, while the union has been in talks with the State Government, the Premier's failed to address members' concerns over uncompetitive salaries and scrapping a 2.5 percent salary cap.
It comes as a new poll of Newcastle teachers found almost three-quarters said their workload is unmanageable and were reconsidering their position.
89 percent didn't feel their pay reflected their expertise and responsibilities, while 85 percent said staff shortages were very significant.
Department of Education data from last October has revealed, across the State electorates of Newcastle, Maitland, Wallsend, Charlestown, and Port Stephens, there were 114 vacant permanent teaching positions.
