QTU Members' newsflash No. 9-23, 8 December 2023 | Open PDF
TO: QTU MEMBERS
Thank you and happy holidays!
As the school year draws to a close, the QTU wants to acknowledge and thank all QTU members for the commitment and dedication that they have shown to their students and their colleagues throughout the challenging school year.
Teachers and school leaders work hard every day so that students can achieve their maximum potential. It is so important that as we continue to implement the certified agreement and campaign to address the teacher shortage and occupational violence, schools are given the necessary resources to continue to make a difference for all the students we teach.
This year has been a busy one, the QTU has made a second submission to the Comprehensive Review of School Resourcing (CROSR). This calls on the state government to fully fund a new state school resourcing model that meets the needs of 21st Century educational contexts, improves the retention of experienced teachers and education leaders, and adopts a differentiated staffing and resourcing model, particularly for regional, remote, rural, and hard-to-staff locations.
The QTU welcomes the state government’s $288 million package to support educational engagement for a range of students, including those needing additional support to remain engaged or become re-engaged in learning and those involved in youth justice. However, the Union is calling for more support for teachers and school leaders in the workplace – regardless of where they work occupational violence toward our members cannot be tolerated. Additional alternative learning programs and FlexiSpaces in high-needs schools are welcomed.
The QTU strongly supports the continuation of stand-alone special schools and special education programs. We will be carefully analysing the impact of the federal government’s recently announced changes to NDIS funding and its impact on the students in our schools.
This year, members in state schools received a 4 per cent salary increase and back pay in February, another 4 per cent increase on 1 July, and a cost-of-living adjustment payment in August. Members in 53 rural and remote TR2 and TR3 schools received a $900 attraction payment, and the QTU expects a further tranche of schools to receive this payment before the end of the calendar year. QTU members in those schools are ready to take action next year should the payments not be forthcoming.
The QTU and its officers will continue to negotiate improvements to the pay and working conditions of QTU members right up until our offices close.
Planning for 2024
Many of the Union’s priorities and campaigns will continue into next year. Importantly as we head into a state election, the Queensland Government must commit to funding state schools at 100 per cent of the school resourcing standard from the beginning of the 2025 school year.
It must also address the chronic teacher shortage, which is resulting in many schools struggling to find the staff that they need.
They must continue to invest in addressing occupational violence and workplace health and safety issues in schools. It is vital that everyone understands that schools are workplaces and there is zero tolerance for violence in any form.
The QTU’s State Budget Submission 2024/2025, which has been sent to the Premier, the Treasurer and Ministers for Education and Training, outlines for the state government key areas of investment to ensure our members’ working conditions, and therefore students’ learning conditions are improved.
Members can view the key recommendations here (https://www.qtu.asn.au/sbs-key-recommendations-2024-25).
Office Closure
The QTU Milton office will be closed from 3pm on 22 December and will reopen on Monday 8 January 2024 at 8.30am. Members requiring urgent legal assistance can contact the QTU via phone, 07 3512 9000. All other non-urgent queries left during this shutdown will be referred to QTAD to answer when the office re-opens.
Right to Disconnect
Once the school bell rings at the end of the last day of school it will be time for you to disconnect from work and enjoy your holidays. The right to disconnect means that work emails should be met with an out-of-office response, stating that you will not be responding during the school holiday period. This is an important inclusion in the certified agreement and applies to all members. It is important for your own wellbeing that you take this time to unwind and take a break from all things work related.
We will also be pausing all but emergent communications to you via email and online during the school holiday period.
We hope you have a safe, restful, and joy-filled holiday and come back refreshed and rejuvenated when the school year recommences in 2024.
Kate Ruttiman
General Secretary
Authorised by Kate Ruttiman, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers' Union
21 Graham Street, Milton, QLD, Australia, 4064