Growing the QTU, one conversation at a time
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 128 No 4, 9 June 2023, page no.15
I’m often asked why the QTU has so many members. And my response is normally “because we are the industrial and professional voice to the teaching profession in state schools and TAFE”, and “our volunteer Workplace Representatives and Officers do outstanding work with and for members, winning every day”.
Stopping to smell the roses, or in this case celebrating our wins, is a really effective way to engage current and potential members in the important work of the QTU.
Over the past few months, Area Council Delegates across the state have been identifying local (school/institute based), regional and statewide QTU wins and reporting these back at their local branch meetings. Using this basic structure, they have come up with an easy localised response to the perennial question, “What does the QTU do?”. It also allows us to share the collective power of the 48,000 plus members of our Union and what we can achieve when we work together.
One delegate outlined a local win that resulted from a review of playground duty areas, culminating in a new roster that saw fewer teachers on duty after areas where students no longer congregated were removed. They then highlighted a regional win – a process that saw more than 20 guidance officers in a region made permanent. Finally, their statewide win was the recent bulk verification for teachers transitioning to senior teacher, experienced senior teacher (EST) and EST2 classifications.
Another example of a local win was shared at a recent Area Council meeting. Through negotiation at the local consultative committee (LCC), report card comments were no longer used, significantly reducing teacher and school leader workload. The regional win was the clarification of district relieving teacher working conditions to ensure consistent access to meal breaks and workload across each school using their services. The statewide win was the annual salary progression for part-time teachers and school leaders.
All of these examples demonstrated the work of the QTU with and on behalf of members. Although some of the local wins might seem small, they are still worth sharing and celebrating. Often, a local win becomes a regional win. And sometimes, the actions of one group of members in a particular workplace lead to systemic change and a win for all members across the state.
When QTU members act collectively, we win. That is a pretty powerful reason to choose to belong!
So, have a think about the local wins you have had recently in your workplace and share them. Attend your local branch (in person or online, depending on your location) and listen to the other wins members are achieving together. Some of these may easily be replicated in your workplace. Sharing these stories helps to keep existing members engaged in the work of their Union and promotes the benefits of joining for every potential member.
Joining is easy!
We have recently made fortnightly direct debit a payment option for members. This has proven popular for members looking to spread out their dues payments more evenly across the year. The payments are made over 22 fortnights across the year, from February to November, with a “dues holiday” over the Christmas school vacation period.
If you know someone who is not yet a member of the QTU, share this page of the Queensland Teachers’ Journal with them in the staffroom. They can join easily by scanning the QR code on their phone.
Join online at www.qtu.asn.au/join