What you said about Qld teachers striking on Wednesday, August 6

Qld’s looming teacher strike is already having an impact, with readers reacting furiously to the news. HAVE YOUR SAY

Teachers protesting outside Parliament House in June. Picture: Nigel Hallett

State school teachers across Queensland will go on strike next week – sparking widespread debate and anger among the rest of the state.

For the first time in 16 years Queensland Teachers Union President Cresta Richardson said members had “overwhelmingly” voted in favour of a 24-hour work stoppage on August 6 across all state schools in Queensland.

In an email sent out to teachers, the QTU revealed a whopping 36,583 out of 38,243 total votes were in favour of the strike.

The union in June rejected the government’s offer of salary increases of 3 per cent, 2.5 per cent, and 2.5 per cent over the next three years.

This is the first time teachers have walked off the job to strike since 2009.

Brisbane teacher Damion Douglass said teachers had been left with “no other option” but to strike.

“This is about teachers carrying a broken system on our backs while being told to sit tight and smile through it,” he said.

Mr Douglass said to be clear, schools might be “open” on August 6, but they wouldn’t be running as usual.

Damion Douglass says teachers have been left with no other option. Picture: Adam Head

Shadow Education Minister Di Farmer said no one should have to walk off the job just to be heard.

Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said after 17 meetings over the past five months, the government remained at the table to finalise an agreement with the Queensland Teachers Union to support and resource teachers.

President of the Queensland Teachers' Union Cresta Richardson. Picture: Richard Walker

News of the strike sparked debate among readers, with more than 60 per cent voting in an online poll in favour of a pay rise.

Many suggested teachers deserve to strike, while others took aim at a broken system.

Others, though, blamed previous governments for letting things get to this point.

See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

Get a grip

Donald

All public employees need to get a grip. There’s only so much the taxpayer can bear. Especially after Labor spent ten years destroying Queensland’s finances.

Graham

What a joke – holding the public to ransom

Geoffrey

I’m a teacher and do not want to strike. I appreciate what I have. Yes, I work more than 9 to 3, but I acknowledge many people do this. I also don’t know where the government is expected to find this extra money. We need to have realistic expectations.

Beth

Amazing how the unions come out swinging now Labor isn’t in power, as if the current Government has been holding them back for years.

Shadow Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen / Courier Mail

Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek. Pictures: Adam Head

Wider issues

Boswoz

It is noticeable that the increase offered is no different to what the inept Palaszczuk government offered them, but strangely no strikes whilst Labor were wrecking the State.

Farmerp

Who is to blame for this? Government, unions, teachers.

If standards of students are set and held to strict standards, better than the standards of education obviously. All we here is, pay rise, pay rise, pay rise

Bystander

Waited for an LNP government, eh? How transparent.

Wayne

How is getting paid more going to fix the behaviour of students?

Why compare the wages of traffic controllers to Teachers?

Teachers protesting outside Parliament House in June. Picture: Nigel Hallett

What a joke

JANE

So, declining student numeracy & literacy = pay rise for teachers. I’m clearly working too hard & need to be paid more while I do less.

Wayne

The excuse that other States are paid more than Qld is a bit laughable. Qld teachers are paid more than some other States and less than others. If pay is the only justification for strike action then why aren’t Qld teachers leaving Qld for other states that may pay a higher wage?

David

I have been married to a teacher for 20 years, you are delusional if you think they only work 40 hours a week.

Max

To all those who are criticising teachers in these comments, go into a state school classroom until morning tea, and after that taste of teacher reality you’ll be begging to join the strike action.

Originally published as What you said about Qld teachers striking on Wednesday, August 6