WITH Christmas now less than 30 sleeps away, Queensland teachers are hoping for a festive-season breakthrough – a new enterprise bargaining agreement that finally addresses long-running concerns and delivers meaningful improvements for classroom educators.
Following last Tuesday’s statewide strike, parents and caregivers across Ipswich shared mixed but largely supportive reactions.
“We support our teachers 100 per cent,” said parent Amanda McFarlane.
Local grandmother Wendy Norman agreed.
“I support the teachers. I had my grandkids for the day,” she said.
The 24-hour walkout was only the second strike by Queensland teachers in 16 years. The Department of Education said contingency measures were implemented to ensure the impact on families and students was kept to a minimum.
“Schools communicated with students and families about any changed arrangements for Tuesday and worked with the department to support students with any changes to assessment so that they were not disadvantaged,” a spokesperson said.
“When industrial action occurs, the department puts in place all necessary arrangements to ensure the ongoing safety and supervision of students and, where possible, the continuation of learning programs.”
Across the region, local MPs said educators had been clear about their frustrations. State Member for Ipswich West Wendy Bourne said teachers in her region’s 23 schools have been forthright about their challenges.
“Tuesday’s strike action was not just about fair pay, but rather the conditions of the EBA,” Ms Bourne said.
“Workplace safety should be a minimum, and teachers shouldn’t be offered a lower wage rate in exchange for not being hurt in the classroom.”
She criticised the Premier for failing to follow through on a commitment to personally engage in negotiations.
State Member for Bundamba Lance McCallum said all four local MPs stood solidly with teachers in their call for fair wages, safe workplaces and manageable workloads.
“It’s a damning indictment on the LNP that this will be the second strike action in less than six months under their watch. Before that you have to go back over 15 years to find the last time teachers went on strike,” he said.
“We have the best teachers in the country and they deserve nation-leading wages and conditions.”
Ipswich MP Jennifer Howard said the region’s rapid growth was dependent on a supported and respected teaching workforce.
“Every teacher I speak to wants the Government to improve their working conditions to make classrooms safer for their students and themselves,” she said.
“They deserve to have safe classrooms, but this shouldn’t come at the cost of fair and reasonable wages.”
