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Queensland families are being encouraged to keep half a million state primary and high school students at home next Wednesday as teachers walk out for the first time in 16 years.
About 95 per cent of Queensland Teachers’ Union members voted to walk off the job for 24 hours on Wednesday next week amid negotiations over pay and conditions with the state government – the first strike for the union in 16 years.
And the Wednesday strike is likely to be one of many, with the union warning “a series of 24-hour strikes are impending”.
Queensland Teachers Union members have decided to strike next Wednesday, and have urged parents to keep their children home.Credit: Getty Images
On Wednesday morning, the union urged Queenslanders to “stand with us at this crucial time”, arguing schools were critically understaffed and teachers and school leaders were burning out.
“If you have children, please keep them at home on Wednesday,” the union said on social media.
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“We do not do this lightly. We have been left with no choice because education in this state is at breaking point.”
The union said the government’s offer showed little respect for teachers’ essential work and would reduce them to some of the lowest paid in Australia.
“The state government’s offer, if accepted, would compound an already critical teacher shortage,” the union’s statement says.
On Tuesday, an Education Department spokeswoman said it were focused on maintaining safe, operational schools and minimising disruption for students and staff.
Brisbane state schools have been emailing parents letting them know their children will be supervised if they arrive at school, as principals scramble to work out how many non-union members they will have available to be on site.
It is the first time since 2009 that teachers have taken strike action in Queensland.
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