The NSW Teachers Federation's Council voted unanimously for the 24 hour stoppage at a meeting in Sydney on Saturday, November 27.

The president of the federation, Angelo Gavrielatos attended Taree on Thursday, November 11 to lead a rally of teachers from the Manning-Great Lakes to protest the "ever-increasing workload" teachers are facing.

At the protest in Taree, Mr Gavrielatos said he wasn't going to support a strike unless the federation had no other option.

READ MORE: Teachers from Manning-Great Lakes schools met at Taree to protest staff shortages

"This will be the first 24 hour stoppage in a decade and it reflects the gravity of the situation we find ourselves in," Mr Gavrielatos said.

The resolution of this dispute is now in the hands of Premier Perrottet, he said.

"The Perrottet Government is refusing to listen to the warnings of its own education department that the unsustainable workloads and uncompetitive salaries of teachers are contributing to growing shortages and turning people off teaching.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says he's disappointed after the teachers called a statewide strike.

"This is about the future of the teaching profession and the quality of education children receive. No student should miss out because of a lack of teachers, but this is what is going to increasingly happen across NSW if the government fails to act," Mr Gavrielatos said.

"Principals and teachers don't take this decision lightly. Over the course of the last 18 months we have exhausted all options available to us to arrive at a negotiated settlement with the government.

"But the government's position has been fixed from day one. They won't budge from a one-size-fits- all 2.5 per cent wages cap despite their own education department's warning that teacher shortages exist because other careers pay more competitive salaries.

"Every year teachers have been asked to do more and every year their salary has fallen compared to other professions," he said.

"The Perrottet Government won't increase the preparation time of all teachers despite their own survey showing only one third of teachers have the time to do their job well."

The time teachers have for planning and preparation outside the classroom hasn't increased since the 1980s for primary teachers and the 1950s for secondary teachers, Mr Gavrielatos said.

"The number of vacant permanent positions in schools has increased by 80 per cent since June and the Education Minister was warned in July that NSW is facing 'a large and growing shortage of teachers'.

"The Perrottet Government doesn't seem to care that the shortages are so bad that one in five teachers are teaching outside their subject area.

"If you don't care about teacher shortages, you don't care about kids missing out.

"We are facing a perfect storm - plummeting new graduate numbers, rising enrolments, an ageing workforce - which spell out acute teacher shortages. The situation is so bad the education department warned last year NSW could run out of teachers in five years.

"The premier wants to be known as a family premier - well this is a major test of his commitment to the children of NSW and the teachers they rely on."

The industrial award that determines the salaries and conditions of teachers expires in December.

In line with the recommendations of the independent Gallop inquiry, teachers and principals are seeking a salary increase of between 5 to 7.5 per cent a year to recognise the increase in their skills and expertise and begin to reverse the decline in teachers' wages compared to other professions.

An increase in preparation time of two hours a week is also sought to allow teachers more time for lesson planning and collaboration with their colleagues.

Mr Perrottet said the pay issue would ultimately be resolved at the Industrial Relations Commission.

Reports suggest all 2200 of the State's public schools could be impacted by the industrial action, with as many as 60,000 teachers considering taking part.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: