Week-long Qld teacher industrial action looms, second threat this month

Members of Queensland’s powerful teachers union are set to vote on proposed week-long industrial action amid ongoing concern over homeschooling and student suspension reforms.

President of the Queensland Teachers' Union Cresta Richardson with Education and Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer - Picture: Richard Walker

Having staved off one teacher strike last week, the state government is again facing potential industrial action in schools, with negotiations with the powerful Teachers’ Union over a range of ongoing issues having failed to ease tensions.

A proposed week-long industrial action is currently being voted on by the union’s 48,000 members, with a decision to be made early next week on whether to go ahead. Low-level industrial action is proposed, there are no plans for teachers to walk off the job.

The current sticking points for the union are ongoing teacher shortages, workloads linked to the new national curriculum, and the use of student suspension and expulsion data as a performance measure.

The QTU revealed last week it was prepared to authorise a separate strike over planned Education Act reforms, until Education Minister Di Farmer bowed to pressure and put the contentious changes to homeschooling and student suspensions and expulsions on hold.

Queensland Teachers Union president Cresta Richardson said the union has been working with the Department of Education and Ms Farmer to try to find solutions to the three ongoing issues fuelling the potential industrial action.

“[In] March, [the QTU] State Council determined that a week of action for members should take place around teacher shortages, workload associated with the implementation of the new Australian Curriculum, and the use of school disciplinary absence (SDA) data as a performance measure,” Ms Richardson said.

Di Farmer speaks during Question Time at Parliament House in Brisbane. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

“Members are currently being balloted on whether they support a range of work bans (a form of action that will allow teachers to teach and leaders to lead), during the week of action.

“This ballot does not include stop work action, rather a range of activities that teachers and school leaders can undertake to ensure our message to the department is loud and clear.

“Greater consideration must be given to the workload imposed on our teacher and school leader members on any new initiative undertaken by the department.

“The QTU continues to campaign for greater consistency in the approach to the implementation of new initiatives by the Department of Education.”

While the union has not specified exactly what form the proposed industrial action could take, but work bans can include measures such as school staff refusing to do tasks or respond to communications during scheduled breaks or out-of-hours, staff not complying with certain Department requests, or members not attending non-essential staff meetings.

A Department of Education spokeswoman confirmed ongoing discussions with the QTU “on a number of key workforce issues”.

“The Department will continue to work with the QTU on these matters to negate the need for any industrial action,” the spokeswoman said.

“The Department of Education strives to maintain positive and productive relationships with employees and key stakeholders.”

Last week, following the state government’s decision to shelve proposed legislative reforms to homeschooling and student suspensions and expulsions policies, the QTU revealed it had considered strike action to force the government’s hand.

“Members were prepared to take industrial action to oppose these amendments, but through our submissions and ongoing discussions, the Education Minister and Premier have shown they are willing to listen to state school teachers and school leaders,” Ms Richardson said.

“This decision ensures that school leaders can continue to exercise their professional judgement in maintaining the good order and conduct of schools, as well as ensuring safety, wellbeing and positive teaching and learning environments for members and students.”