Teachers at Eden’s public schools walked off the job Wednesday morning to add their voices to the thousands of teachers in state schools who continue to protest against the imposed changes to the teacher transfer system.

Currently the Education Board controls teaching appointments but under the new system school principals would have the hiring power.

At Eden Marine High School 42 teachers stopped work for a 15 minute meeting, where they unanimously supported a resolution which demanded the protection of “the right to transfer for all classroom teachers, executives and principals” and of teachers’ “rights to be represented on all selection panels”.

NSW Teachers Federation representative at EMHS Tony McDonald moved the resolution, which was seconded by Carrina Collins, a teacher who transferred to Eden from Cobar at the start of the year.

Miss Collins accrued points at the rural school, to gain a transfer to Eden.

“Schools out west will simply not attract enough candidates or quality candidates,” Mr McDonald said.

He said the schools would be pressed for time to manage the application, interview and selection process of teachers.

He said Eden teachers would join their colleagues in further state-wide action early next month.