Qld teacher pay dispute: State govt stands firm over demands, as arbitration looms

The state government will not entertain requests from the Queensland Teacher’s Union to negotiate an upfront pay rise or changes to the wage deal, as arbitration looms.

QTU members marching during the teachers strike on August 6. Picture: NewsWire / Tara Croser

The state government will not entertain requests from the Queensland Teacher’s Union to negotiate an upfront pay rise or changes to the wage deal ahead of arbitration.

The QTU has held off from entering arbitration voluntarily in the hopes Premier David Crisafulli will personally intervene in the failed wage talks and meet the union’s outstanding demands.

Those include a request for arbitration to focus only on remuneration for teachers in stream 1, and school leaders in stream 2 and 3, call-out allowances for positions of additional responsibility, allowances for teachers working with students with disabilities and for work performed outside rostered duty time such as camps, intentional collaboration time during student free days, stand down provisions to ensure safe workplaces, workforce initiatives and the impacts of the school resourcing review on salaries.

The union has also asked the government to consider an upfront 3 per cent pay rise backdated no later than October 1.

Director-General of the Queensland Department of Education Sharon Schimming with Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek. Photo Steve Pohlner

Ms Richardson on Friday confirmed teachers would consider strike action over the remaining six weeks of the school term if Mr Crisafulli refused to meet with the union to discuss the outstanding matters.

But Mr Crisafulli and Education Department Director-General Sharon Schimming have repeatedly stated the government will not entertain interim talks with the union.

A spokesman from Mr Crisafulli’s office on Saturday reiterated that the state government would only progress to arbitration.

The QTU on Friday announced plans to hold after-school rallies across the state on Thursday.

It follows months of failed wage negotiations, with members last week rejecting a final pay rise offer of 8 per cent.

Originally published as Qld teacher pay dispute: State govt stands firm over demands, as arbitration looms