Qld teachers guarantee no strikes in current term as negotiations continue

The Queensland Teachers’ Union and Education Department have confirmed there will be no more state school strikes for the next four weeks.

There are three weeks left in term 3, ensuring there will be no foreseen disruptions to the rest of the current school term.

The update comes after thousands of teachers walked off the job earlier this month in a huge strike over stalled negotiations for better pay and conditions.

Queensland state choool teachers went on strike earlier this month.Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt

On Saturday afternoon, Queensland Teachers’ Union general secretary Kate Ruttiman said the negotiations in the current enterprise bargaining agreement, EB11, had reached a consensus with the Education Department and Queensland Industrial Relations Commission that there be no teacher strikes in the next month.

“After 2½ hours of deliberations, State Council have heard the report about EB11 and the progress of negotiations as part of the conciliation process,” she said in a video posted on social media.

“In hearing this and knowing that it is the view of the Commission that those negotiations have been occurring in good faith and that they have been productive, Council have determined to accept a recommendation from the Commission that we delay the consideration of any further industrial action for at least a four-week period.”

On Friday, Queensland Education Department director-general Sharon Schimming explained the negotiation process of the teachers’ union and government, while also formally confirming the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union and Australian Workers Union had accepted the latest agreement offer from the state government.

“Conciliation is a formal process where the QIRC, as a neutral third party, assists the department and the Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) through facilitated discussions on any matters that remain in dispute,” Schimming said in a statement.

“The process occurs within the ‘good faith’ bargaining framework of the Industrial Relations Act 2016, and confidentiality is a key feature of the process.”

On Saturday, Ruttiman also said that despite no planned strikes, union members were still welcome to voice their opinion on the negotiating process and were encouraged to wear union branding and colours to work.

“Council have resolved that consequently [QTU] Executive will consider the further steps in the campaign following its meeting on the 7th of October.

“...We also want to make sure that members know the campaign continues. There are rallies occurring this week in Hervey Bay, in Warwick and on the Sunshine Coast.

Loading

“And we encourage all members to wear maroon on Monday to make sure that the government sees that we are standing strong and that our communities understand the importance and the significance of achieving an agreement for Queensland teachers that attract people to our profession, keep people in our profession and address the teacher shortage crisis.”

The strike action on August 6 was backed by more than 95 per cent of QTU members, following the state government’s second offer of revised pay and conditions.

The last offer prompting the industrial action included a wage rise of 8 per cent across three years and additional pay for extracurricular activities, including a $100 allowance for each night spent at a school camp, as well as a $400 teacher registration subsidy.

The QTU lists its key demands as addressing the teacher shortage crisis, improving workplace safety, reducing teacher workload and ensuring “professional leading salaries and conditions” to retain good teachers and attract better candidates to the job.

Most Viewed in Politics

Loading