Teacher pay dispute escalates as strike deadline approaches

The Crisafulli government has called in Queensland’s industrial relations watchdog to help end its pay dispute with public school teachers, just hours before the union’s ballot on industrial action was due to close.

The ballot of about 48,000 teachers in the union was set to close at 5pm on Monday, with the union saying earlier this month that looming action was “all but a certainty”. That could include full-day strikes later this term.

In a statement released on Monday afternoon, the Crisafulli government said it remained at the table and was continuing to negotiate with the union in good faith.

The union said its rally outside parliament on the day of the state budget was unexpectedly large.

At stake is an offer including an extra student free day, an overnight camp allowance of $100 per night, and a new pay point for the most experienced classroom teachers, who could be paid more than $145,000.

For some teachers, increases to the base wage were a sticking point. The current offer would give a 3 per cent wage rise backdated to July 1 this year, but the department has warned that backpay was dependent on accepting the offer by Thursday, July 31.

Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the government had requested conciliation at the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, and wanted to reach an agreement as soon as possible.

“Our most recent offer represents a significant investment in our teaching workforce, delivers substantial improvements to workplace conditions, responds directly to key priorities raised by the QTU and supports the continued delivery of high-quality education in state schools,” Langbroek said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the union told its members that participating in conciliation “does not stop members taking protected industrial action”.

President Cresta Richardson said the QTU had thoroughly prepared for a range of outcomes including conciliation, and welcomed the opportunity to articulate its positions before the QIRC.

The union executive was set to meet on Monday evening after the ballot on industrial action closed to discuss its next steps.

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