Hundreds of educators in Townsville have walked off the job, uniting with thousands of their colleagues across Queensland in a significant show of force marking their second major strike since August. The industrial action underscores a deepening crisis as pay negotiations with the state government remain deadlocked.
Union Anger Boils Over as Government Stays Silent
The Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) reported a strong turnout of approximately 500 members at a strike meeting held at PCYC Aitkenvale on Tuesday. QTU deputy general secretary Leah Mertens stated that the gathering was a clear indicator that educator frustration has reached a boiling point.
"They’re angry, they’re disappointed, and they’re frustrated with the Premier, who said he would solve the teacher attraction crisis," Ms Mertens said. The union asserts that it has been attempting to engage with Premier David Crisafulli since a June conference where he promised personal intervention to secure a fair deal.
Ms Mertens expressed profound disappointment with the government's subsequent silence. "Unfortunately, there’s been crickets, and that’s why we’re going on strike again for the second time – we haven’t done that for probably close to 30 years," she revealed.
Minister Dismisses Strike Impact Ahead of Arbitration
In a contrasting stance, Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek preemptively dismissed the industrial action, stating it would make 'no difference' with an arbitration hearing scheduled for the end of December. He described the strikes as "disappointing" and suggested a potential third strike before year's end would be equally pointless.
Mr Langbroek defended the government's position, pointing to its offer of an 8% wage increase over three years, with the potential to rise to 10.5% depending on inflation. He noted this offer had been accepted by other unions.
When questioned on why neither he nor the Premier had organised a private meeting with the QTU to avert the strike, Minister Langbroek claimed such meetings "don't happen" and that it was "not how this process works." This assertion appears at odds with information from the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, which confirmed that such private meetings are permitted during the conciliation stage.
Core Demands and a Call for Negotiation
Beyond the pay dispute, the QTU is advocating for systemic improvements to the profession. Ms Mertens highlighted that teachers need manageable workloads, respect, and protection from occupational violence and aggression.
Despite the government's push for arbitration, the union maintains its door is open for direct negotiation. "We stand ready for one short phone call," Ms Mertens stated. "We would drop everything and meet with the Premier and the Education Minister to talk about what it’s going to take to get a deal done."
With the arbitration process looming at the end of December and the threat of further industrial action, the standoff between Queensland's educators and the state government shows no immediate signs of resolution.
