Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School teachers continue strike after talks fall through

Teachers and support staff at an elite girls’ school will press ahead with a strike tomorrow, the first in its 132-year history, after a meeting on Monday failed to find a way forward.

Ipswich Girls Grammar teachers and support staff will go ahead with strike action on Tuesday, June 4. Picture: Jono Searle

Teachers and school support staff at Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School and Ipswich Junior Grammar School will stop work for the first time in the school’s 132 year history tomorrow, June 4, after talks this morning failed to find a way forward.

The unprecedented move came after union allegations last week that the school had docked pay for staff taking lunch breaks.

The stop work would be between 11.55am and 2.55pm to campaign for better working conditions at the school, the first such action since it opened in 1892.

The strike action comes after IEU-QNT members at the school began their first tranche of protected industrial actions last Monday, May 20.

They included employees not attending staff meetings, except those related to staff and student safety.

They also refused any work during scheduled breaks.

The school had written to all staff a fortnight ago and again last week saying it planned to dock 7.67 per cent from pay packets of those who had taken part in the refusal to work during scheduled breaks.

This low-level industrial action has been ongoing daily since Monday, May 20, but was suspended on Wednesday, May 29, ahead of next tomorrow’s three-hour strike.

Tuesday’s industrial action will be the first strike in Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School’s 132-year history. Picture: Jono Searle.

Ipswich Girls and Junior Grammar School said in a statement on Monday afternoon that it continued to engage in good faith negotiations with representatives from the IEU’s Queensland and Northern Territory Branch.

“The school recognises the importance of addressing employee concerns and is actively participating in discussions,’’ Principal Dr Marie Perry said.

“It acknowledges the recent developments but remains committed to collaborative efforts. “Despite the sudden escalation in industrial action, we want to assure everyone that the school continues to negotiate in good faith.

“Our scheduled negotiation meeting on Monday reflects the school’s determination to find a positive resolution.

“While some staff members are participating in the proposed industrial action, many others are continuing with business as usual.

“The school acknowledges this diversity of responses and remains committed to minimising disruptions to students’ learning experiences.”

She said the School was acting in accordance with the provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009 in responding to the action.

The School hds been bargaining in good faith including meeting with staff representatives regularly since August last year.

“Ipswich Girls’ and Junior Grammar School remains dedicated to fostering a positive working

environment and invites the IEU-QNT to return to the bargaining table for meaningful dialogue,’’ she said.

Independent Education Union – Queensland and Northern Territory (IEU-QNT) Organiser for Ipswich Andrew Elphinstone said employees had no choice but to take strike action.

Staff at the school were seeking action on three key issues: a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) payment; a new automatic step for experienced teachers; and flexible access to leave.

The IEU and IGGS have been negotiating for on staff conditions for none months.

“As employers, IGGS and IJGS have failed to take the steps needed to resolve the key concerns of members at a negotiating meeting held earlier today,” Mr Elphinstone said.

“Taking any form of protected industrial action, especially strike action, is always a last resort for IEU-QNT members, but the employer has left them no choice.

“IEU-QNT members aren’t just taking this action because they deserve better working conditions, they are fighting for the future of the IGGS and IJGS school community.

“The employer proposal puts at risk attracting and retaining high-quality teachers for IGGS and IJGS students, now and into the future”.

A statement provided by Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School last week said the school “wishes to emphasise its unwavering commitment to finding a way forward through constructive negotiations”.

But the school said a pay rise of five per cent — above the wage price index — was offered to all staff earlier this year, followed by another five per cent in 2025 and a further four per cent in 2026.

It said the salary increases were “historically high” and “determined based on what is sustainable for the school”.

“The proposed collective agreement aimed to enhance staff conditions by offering improved pathways to leading teacher salaries, along with a more robust and incremental pay scale for school officers,’’ it said.