A spokesperson for the Independent Education Union said the staff would be striking for four hours on Monday “in protest against their Catholic employers’ refusal to strike a reasonable bargain” over arbitration. 

Schools taking part from the district include: St Bede’s, Braidwood; St Mary’s, Crookwell; and St Joseph’s Primary and Ss Peter and Paul’s primary schools in Goulburn. 

There is no rally in Goulburn, but a union spokesperson said staff from these schools would be travelling to rallies in Canberra to support their colleagues. 

“The mood of members has lifted with more than 100 additional schools taking part in this second round of action following a series of a stop works in early November,” IEU Secretary John Quessy said.

Mr Quessy said the enterprise agreement for members, which expired in 2016, was yet to include the agreed 2.5 per cent pay grade.

“Members are also fighting to maintain the right to arbitration in the agreement,” he said. 

“This dispute is not about pay. A 2.5 per cent pay rise was settled nearly a year ago, but has yet to be paid.

“Rather the dispute is about Catholic employers vetoing the right of the union to access the Fair Work Commission for arbitration. Details of the enterprise agreement also remain unresolved.”

Staff from Trinity Catholic College are not participating in any strike action. About 350 NSW and ACT schools will participate.