Remember When: The future of striking teachers over marijuana charges was to be decided

THE future of striking teachers over the marijuana issue was to be decided in Brisbane and union delegates from the Gold Coast were set to play an influential role.

Flashback: Teacher drug strike talk

Gold Coast Bulletin, Friday, September 24, 1976

THE future of striking teachers over the marijuana issue was to be decided in Brisbane and union delegates from the Gold Coast were set to play an influential role.

The Queensland Teachers Union Council, by way of extraordinary business, was to introduce the question.

The 69 council delegates were expected to vote on the future action relating to the reinstatement of four teachers following their dismissal after convictions on marijuana charges.

This vote was said to determine clearly the union’s stance.

The Bulletin reported that the council had to virtually decide to drop industrial action or introduce blanket strikes.

The State Government showed that it would not conciliate under any strike conditions.

The rolling strikes generated little other than polarisation between the union, the government and the teachers.

Gold Coast Bulletin 1976, September 24. Front page.

It was said there was clear recognition of that among Gold Coast teachers, regardless of their sympathies toward the dismissed teachers.

From the Gold Coast’s viewpoint, teachers had directed the matter get aired and resolved at the meeting.

The Southport District and South Coast District was to each have one delegate to the council meeting.

In the Gold Coast schools were ballots on strike action had been held, the numbers for and against the strikes had been weighed about 55 per cent against action.

Meanwhile, the Gold Coast and Albert Shire councils shared in more than $890,000 in distributions under a new Commonwealth tax-sharing plan put forward that year.