‘Keep your children home from school’: Queensland teachers prepare to strike for first time in 16 years

More than 50,000 state school teachers across Queensland will strike on Wednesday over serious issues in state schools that the union says has led to a chronic teacher shortage and pay dispute.

It will be the first time in 16 years Queensland Teachers Union members stop work in response to claims the Crisafulli government has failed to acknowledge the “urgency of serious issues” affecting schools across the state.

The government says schools will remain open and students would be supervised.

QTU president Cresta Richardson said chronic teacher shortages had led to increased workloads and other serious issues, such as violence in schools, that required statewide attention.

“Our members have voted unanimously to send this government a clear message,” she said.

“We are united and dedicated to turning around the exodus of burnt-out teachers and school leaders from our schools. Our students and school communities need the government to do its job.”

The union has been negotiating with the state government for better pay and rejected an offer to increase wages by 8 per cent over the next three years.

The union boss said the offer would put Queensland teachers at the bottom end of the Australian pay scale.

“We can’t let more teachers and school leaders walk out the door,” Ms Richardson said.

“We have to attract and retain our educators. Today is a day to remind everyone how important our state schools are.”

The union prepared a detailed case for the Industrial Relations Commission highlighting issues occurring in Queensland schools to start conciliation with the government.

“Our claims are reasonable and genuine, and we believe the independent commissioner will see that,” Ms Richardson said.

“We understand our communities and we understand the pressure parents and caregivers are under, but we need to make sure public education is protected and students receive the teacher numbers and resources their parents enjoyed.

“All Queensland children and their families deserve access to quality, free public education, and our members deserve respect and a living salary for providing it.”

Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said Queenslanders had seen the state government continue to negotiate with the QTU in good faith.

“We have held 18 formal meetings over the past five months and remain at the table to finalise an agreement that supports and values our teachers,” he said.

“Principals will be communicating with school communities about any impacts, however, schools remain open and students will be safely supervised.”

QTU’s strike over pay and working conditions has been supported by the independent Education Union.

While its members cannot participate in Wednesday’s stop work action, Independent Education Union Queensland and NT branch secretary Terry Burke said its members shared QTU’s commitment to ensure teacher’s received professional wages and recognition.

Mr Burke said state sector wages affected the entire education profession and its members from 1200 non-government schools across the state passed a resolution in support of the strike action.

The Education Department has been contacted for comment.