Teachers’ strike support plummets as minister warns against third walk-off

Queensland’s second teachers’ strike has backfired spectacularly, with 6000 more teachers working than last time and parents warning against further disruption. VOTE IN OUR POLL

QTU president Cresta Richardson addresses striking teachers on Tuesday. Picture: Annette Dew

• Editor’s view: Don’t blow goodwill

Support for the Queensland Teachers’ Union’s fight with the state government has plummeted, with a drastically lower turnout than expected at its second strike and parents saying the union needs to get on with it.

About 28,000 teachers were at home or attending a rally on Tuesday, according to the state government, despite the QTU calling on its 50,000 members to walk off the job.

The number included teachers who were on maternity leave, carer’s leave, long-term sick leave, secondments, annual leave, unpaid leave and other types of leave.

Meanwhile, 17,000 teachers were at school working as usual, compared to just 11,700 last time, according to the government.

SADLY, THE UNION IS UNDERMINING TEACHERS’ GOODWILL. READ TODAY’S EDITORIAL AND JOIN THE DISCUSSION

Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek hit back at teachers saying strike action would make no difference to the arbitration process, and warned against a third strike.

The government’s wage policy that teachers have so vehemently refused was accepted by other frontline workers including paramedics, police, doctors and medical officers.

Nurses and midwives were able to negotiate for a larger 11 per cent pay rise over three years as promised by the government during the election.

Mother of two Julie was among many parents who spoke to The Courier-Mail to express their lack of support for the possibility of ongoing strikes.

“I thought the first offer was going to be accepted,” she said.

“I don’t think they should do a third strike personally. I can see why they did it… but it hasn’t worked the first two times so I don’t see the point of doing that again.”

Another mother said it was “tricky” for working parents, while another parent said they felt teachers were paid reasonably.

The QTU, however, would not rule out a third strike before the end of the year despite Mr Langbroek saying it would make no difference.

“That would be almost beyond disappointing that they’re trying to do something which … will make no difference to what we’re trying to achieve,” Mr Langbroek said.

Asked why neither he nor Premier David Crisafulli met privately with the union and intervened before the strike, Mr Langbroek said meetings did not happen between himself and the union.

“The suggestion that the minister or the premier will sit down in a one-off process to cut a deal is not how this process works,” he said.

“Because there’s not much point meeting with people when the goalposts keep changing in terms of the things they want.”

Griffith Business School expert Ben French said to its members the union may seem like the strikes were simply a waste of time.

“There will be no backpay rise, making it problematic for the union if it does not achieve what it wants,” Mr French said.

Mr French said less teachers may have skipped this strike because they realised arbitration was inevitable as the government would not improve its offer.

Speaking at the rally, QTU president Cresta Richardson said the union had been reasonable in its request.

“We’ve reached out multiple times (to the government) and there’s been crickets,” Ms Richardson said.

“We want improved conditions. We want to fix the torture.”

Originally published as Teachers’ strike support plummets as minister warns against third walk-off