Occupational violence and severe staff shortages: Qld teachers’ statewide strike

Rallies and protests are taking place across the state, with large crowds expected in Brisbane’s CBD, as well as on the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and in Cairns, Townsville, and Toowoomba.

Exam week has been impacted for tens of thousands of Queensland Year 10 and 11 students “caught in the middle” of the bitter teacher strike as the State Government warns negotiations are over. 

The Crisafulli Government has labelled the action “extremely disappointing” as schools scramble to reschedule exams and parents are urged to keep their children at home.

Year 10 and 11 student exams at more than 100 schools across the state have been impacted, with some Year 11 exam results worth up to 25 per cent of students’ final assessment.

It’s the second time in months that teachers have taken strike action after staging the state’s biggest strike in August, demanding better pay and conditions.

The Queensland Teachers Union has overwhelmingly rejected what the Government called an “historic” offer which included an eight per cent pay rise over three years, launching a second round of industrial action during the pivotal final week of exams. 

At the Brisbane rally, QTU president Cresta Richardson said the union had been “reasonable in our request”.

“Teachers have had enough of occupational violence, not being resourced enough to be able to teach the children the future of our state as we go through … this is why our members are joining in today,” she said.

While the QTU has not outlined its pay demands, it said the proposed enterprise agreement does not address the key concerns of members, including classroom violence and severe staff shortages and attrition.

The State Government said the pay deal would have made Queensland teachers among the country’s highest paid, earning in excess of $100,000 by the end of the proposed package, however the QTU said newer entry-level teachers would only reach $95,000 or $99,000, plus superannuation and various incentives.

“We respect the right of the union to take industrial action, but it’s disappointing they have chosen a time that will impact exams for students heading into their senior year, as well as school musicals, awards nights, camps, and end-of-year celebrations,” Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said.

It was voted down by the union, saying it has “no option” but for 50,000 QTU members to strike.

“Today, everyone will see the true resolve and determination of our members, who’ve had enough of being ignored, disrespected and short changed,” Richardson also said this morning.

“The Crisafulli Government simply doesn’t value public education.” 

The teachers’ union has vented its frustration a month after Queensland’s public nurses and midwives accepted a $1.8 billion pay deal from the State Government, which was double their initial offer.

The teachers’ union claimed the Government had persisted with the rejected deal over more than 20 meetings and a period of conciliation in the Industrial Commission.

Richardson said parents could “thank the premier for today’s strike”.

“He could have communicated and agreed to the very basic, reasonable request we had for arbitration and that would have stopped this strike. Instead, he did nothing,” she said.

“The issues are being downplayed and ignored. Our members will not let this continue.”

Pay negotiations are set to head to arbitration, a process that may take two years.

Queensland’s Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek was critical of the action, saying it should have been dealt with by the commission. 

“We’ve already expressed our concerns and my personal disappointment that this issue has come to this,” Langbroek said. 

“It is of concern that the Queensland teachers’ union is taking this to another level with another industrial action today.”

“The offer was the offer. The offer was put to the union members - 30 per cent voted yes for it, and 40 per cent didn’t participate at all. This is on the union to explain to their members.” 

The minister was fiercely critical of the strike’s impact. 

“We have 109 schools that have had ... Year 10 and 11 exams affected,” he said.

“Unfortunately, school finishes this Friday for those Years 10 and 11 and for a lot of those schools, there’s no opportunity for them to reschedule those exams.

“Students are the ones caught in the middle, and that’s something that we are obviously concerned about.” 

Opposition Leader Steven Miles told Brisbane’s Courier Mail that the state’s teachers were “really angry”.

“They do a really important job, one of the most important jobs in our community, and they deserve to be valued and respected and listened to,” Miles said.

“That’s not what this Government has done.”

He said the Premier had promised he would sit down and negotiate a deal with Queensland teachers, but instead, refused to meet with them at all.

“Unfortunately, that means they’ve had to take a second strike. That means parents are left stranded with kids at home. It means kids missing out on a day of school, and in some cases, exams and all of this is the responsibility of David Crisafulli,” Miles said.

“It rests at his feet in terms of the arbitration process that will now take place.”

The QTU has asked parents and guardians to “make alternative plans” for their children, and to “highlight your support for their teachers’ campaign” when reporting their absence.

The union said it also will not rule out the possibility of a third strike.

(With AAP)