Determined teachers win housing victory

The refusal of teachers in remote parts of Queensland to put up with horrific housing conditions has finally forced the government to take action.

Following a year-long dispute that included stop-work meetings, full-day stoppages and numerous days in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC), the Department of Education, Training and the Arts formally advised the QTU that there would be a $20 million increase to the budget for departmental accommodation maintenance.

The money, which will be rolled out across three financial years, will compliment the department’s commitment to provide a “fly-in, fly-out” maintenance program for 30 remote Indigenous communities, four times a year.

An improved maintenance reporting and monitoring process is also being trialed, which will hopefully lead to an improved response when teachers report maintenance issues with their accommodation.

The department has indicated that it will work toward an improved budget allocation for the purposes of upgrade and replacement of teacher accommodation units, and has committed to working with the QTU to reach an agreed minimum standard of departmental accommodation.
The positive outcome of this campaign is a direct consequence of the willingness of members in the Cape and Gulf, Torres Strait and ISSU to take industrial action, in spite of the efforts of the department to prevent them. Members in the Central Highlands and Blackwater branches also sought directives to stop work in support of the campaign.

Teachers in the Torres Strait, Bamaga, Doomadgee and Normanton stopped work for 24 hours on July 31, but a strike due on August 6 was postponed to September 4 on QIRC advice. This was also suspended to allow for a conference to take place at the QIRC.

Finally teachers in 13 Far North Queensland schools went on strike on October 29, and it was this which produced the breakthrough.  After a series of meetings, the government finally offered serious high level negotiations. As an act of good faith prior to the negotiations, the QTU deferred 24 hour strikes in Weipa and Mapoon scheduled for November 6, and one-hour stop-work meetings in the Blackwater and Central Highlands branches in Central Queensland.
The QTU’s State Accommodation Committee will continue to receive updates on the progress of the roll out of the department’s commitments.

Congratulations to all QTU members who took, or committed to take, industrial action, in support of their claims.  The positive outcome is a direct result of your commitment.

Kate Seed
Industrial Advocate