State Council report - 3 November 2018
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 124 No 1, 15 February 2019, page no. 4
The final State Council for 2018 considered a number of matters, including the endorsement of the EB9 claim in schools, the NAPLAN joint statement and the QTU’s position on IPS.
EB9 claim endorsed
The claim, which was developed following extensive member consultation, will focus on improved classifications for promotional positions, measures to address workload, and gender pay equity. The salary claim, which takes into consideration a range of indices including CPI, interstate salary comparisons, cost of housing etc, was set at 4.5 per cent per annum. More details regarding the claim can be found later in this Journal.
NAPLAN joint statement
The joint statement is the first step by the department to attempt to address a number of member and parent concerns in relation to NAPLAN. It and supporting documents developed by QTU activists Cassie Munro and Lisa Broadhurst were considered by Council, which recognised the conditions in the joint statement designed to address workload. Council also considered conditions to lift the ban on NAPLAN Online, and was satisfied that, subject to the Minister taking action to implement the findings of the review on NAPLAN and the department providing assurances that no school would be disadvantaged by accessing the online test, the ban could be removed. To date these matters have not been achieved
IPS
State Council supported the conduct of the ballot of schools to take stop work action should issues relating to HR matters (such as transfers, relocations and permanency for temporary teachers) not be addressed through the IPS review. This ballot was conducted following State Council and overwhelmingly carried.
Establishment of the QTU as provider of professional development
The QTU took a further step toward the provision of PD through the appointment of Rebecca Hack (pictured)as the QTU Professional Development Officer. An experienced principal from Central Queensland region, Rebecca worked with the QTU last year in the roles of acting Research Officer and PD Officer. Rebecca provided extensive PD to members to support the statewide roll-out of the HAT and LT classifications. Rebecca formally commenced working with the QTU in January this year.
State Council also elected QTU activist and primary school teacher Gill Armit to the QTU Executive. The casual vacancy on executive was created following the appointment of Craig Wood to the role of Research Officer by Council last year.
Member campaigns recognised
A number of campaign reports were received by Council. These included: the outcome of the Central Highlands and Central Queensland Area Council campaign for local relieving teachers, the special needs support campaign at Dundala State School, the establishment of behaviour management plans at Highfields State School, direct member and voter engagement for the Fair Funding Now! and Change the Rules campaigns, and the decriminalisation of abortion.