Teachers to strike at Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School next week, first in history

Staff at a top Queensland school which charges parents $20,000 in annual fees, are set to strike amid claims they were docked pay for refusing to work in lunch breaks. But the school says they’ve offered generous pay rises and conditions.

Ipswich Girls Grammar teachers will strike next week for the first time in the school’s history. Picture: Jono Searle

Teachers and school support staff at prestigious Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School are set to walk off the job next week after staffers allegedly had pay docked for taking lunch breaks.

They will stop work between 11.55am and 2.55pm on Tuesday, June 4 to campaign for better working conditions at the school for the first time since it opened in 1892.

The stoppage was classed as “protected industrial action’’, the Independent Education Union – Queensland and Northern Territory (IEU-QNT) said.

It claimed staff were docked pay for taking lunch breaks and the school had failed to listen to key employee concerns.

A statement provided by Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School said the school “wishes to emphasise its unwavering commitment to finding a way forward through constructive negotiations”.

But the school said a pay rise of five per cent — above the wage price index — was offered to all staff earlier this year, followed by another five per cent in 2025 and a further four per cent in 2026.

It said the salary increases were “historically high” and “determined based on what is sustainable for the school”.

“The proposed collective agreement aimed to enhance staff conditions by offering improved pathways to leading teacher salaries, along with a more robust and incremental pay scale for school officers,’’ it said.

Ipswich Girls Grammar School. Picture: Jono Searle

IEU-QNT organiser Andrew Elphinstone said taking any form of protected industrial action, especially strike action, was always a last resort for its members.

“Taking such action is the last thing IEU-QNT members at IGGS want, but their employer has left them no other choice,” Mr Elphinstone said.

“Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School promotes that values like respect are at the heart of its school community.

“So why isn’t the school respecting its teachers and support staff and their working conditions?

“Instead of listening to staff concerns, Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School is ignoring the voice of employees.

“Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School staff deserve better”.

The strike action comes after IEU-QNT members at the school began their first tranche of protected industrial actions last Monday, May 20.

They included employees not attending staff meetings, except those related to staff and student safety.

They also refused any work during scheduled breaks.

The IEU and IGGS have been negotiating on staff conditions for nine months.

The school had written to all staff last week and again this week saying it plans to dock 7.67 per cent from pay packets of those who have taken part in the refusal to work during scheduled breaks.

This low-level industrial action has been ongoing daily since Monday, May 20, but was suspended on Wednesday, May 29, ahead of next Tuesday’s three-hour strike.

The school has agreed to meet with union representatives on Monday for further negotiations.

Ipswich Girls Grammar teachers and support staff will strike next week. Picture: Jono Searle

Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School Principal Dr Marie Perry acknowledged the recent developments but said she remains committed to collaborative efforts.

“Despite the sudden escalation in industrial action, we want to assure everyone that the school continues to negotiate in good faith,” Dr Perry said.

“Our scheduled negotiation meeting on Monday, June 3, reflects the school’s determination to find a positive resolution.

“While some staff members are participating in the proposed industrial action, many others are continuing with business as usual.

“The school acknowledges this diversity of responses and remains committed to minimising disruptions to students’ learning experiences”.

“The (wages) approach ensures fair compensation, aligning staff’s pay with that of peers at other educational facilities.

“The agreement also enhances long service leave provisions, allowing staff to utilise between four to 26 weeks of accumulated leave during the academic term, on top of their regular non-term paid leave.

“Moreover, it introduces greater flexibility to accommodate urgent or special situations”.

But Mr Elphinstone claimed the school administration’s response to taking those low-level actions, including taking lunch breaks, was to dock pay packets.

“These are the kinds of tactics big businesses employ against their workers, not what we expect to see a school employer doing to their staff,” he said.

“If IGGS wants to live its values of respect, we call on them as the employer to come back to the bargaining table ready to address employees’ concerns.”

“IGGS staff have been in negotiations with their employer regarding their current working conditions since August.

“Instead of listening to staff, IGGS has instead sought to silence the voice of employees twice by going to ballot on working conditions that are sub-par.

“In both cases, employees have strongly rejected the IGGS proposal.

“IGGS also sought to restrain employees’ right to a ballot on endorsing protected actions in support of their claims, but this was rejected by the Fair Work Commission (FWC)”.

The union said staff were seeking action on three key issues: a cost-of-living adjustment payment; a new automatic step for experienced teachers; and flexible access to leave.

It said a the cost-of-living payment had already been paid to staff in the Queensland Catholic and state sectors.

An automatic step for experienced teachers was available in Catholic and state schools, while flexible leave was available to staff employed at other schools in the district.

Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School said they are acting in accordance with the provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009 in responding to the action.

“The school has been bargaining in good faith including meeting with staff representatives regularly since August last year,” the school said.

The school has invited the IEU-QNT to return to the bargaining table for meaningful dialogue.

Originally published as Teachers to strike at Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School next week, first in history