Further industrial action is on the cards as NSW teachers yesterday voted overwhelmingly against the NSW Government’s handling of the State’s education system.

Teachers from Dubbo schools yesterday converged on the Dubbo RSL Club to vote on a proposal for further action as they chase changes to the Government’s stances on pay, transfers and class sizes.

Unless a resolution is reached in the near future, it appears as though the battle may continue into Term 4 of the current school year and even into 2009.

But while teachers battle for what they deem a fair go, sections of the general public have had to battle with the inconvenience in spite of knowing little about the conflict.

In a street poll conducted by the Daily Liberal yesterday, many respondents had no idea why the teachers had stopped work.

Across the State, 99.8 per cent of those who took part in the stop-work meeting voted against the Government’s proposed 2.5 per cent per annum pay offer. The NSW Teachers Federation has asked for a 5 per cent per annum increase, which is above the current inflation rate of 4.5 per cent - and are opposing planned changes to the staff transfer system.

“There’s likely to be more industrial action in Term 4 and, if we haven’t settled with the Government, then schools and TAFE colleges won’t open in the same way in 2009,” federation president Maree O’Halloran said.

“I know that for many parents it would be inconvenient but if we don’t draw a line in the sand right now, it will be much worse.

“We could end up with higher class sizes or a lot of people who are not trained in their subject if we don’t deal with the matter now.”

Premier Morris Iemma said the striking teachers were out of touch and “grossly irresponsible”.

“All they are doing is penalising students and parents,” Mr Iemma said, pointing to a 4 per cent pay rise granted to teachers in January.

Acting education minister John Hatzistergos said yesterday’s “pointless” action was disruptive and unnecessary.

“There was nothing achieved today by the stop-work meeting that could not have been achieved through an email or a fax, frankly,” he said.