No. 25-21, 7 October 2021 | Download PDF

TO: QTU MEMBERS

Welcome back for Term 4

Welcome to the start of Term 4, which will see seniors begin their external examinations in a few short weeks and schools planning end of year celebrations. We hope members were able to take a break over the school holiday period.

This term we will work with members to finalise QTU EB10 log of claims. Thank you to those members who contributed to the claim development process via workplace, branch and area council meetings across the state. QTU members will be able to provide their final input to the process prior to State Council via a member survey later this term.

COVID-19 update

Vaccinations

The QTU has confirmed that the department has no intention to make vaccinations mandatory. The only situations in which vaccination is currently required relate to the public health directive covering border zone crossing and the service agreement with Queensland Health regarding the operation of hospital schools and classes.

The QTU continues to encourage anyone who can get vaccinated to take up that opportunity. We will also continue to advocate for members who have medical grounds preventing them from being able to be vaccinated.

The department has advised that some public health units and the Pharmacy Guild are providing approval for high schools to be approached with the opportunity of a school-based COVID-19 student vaccination program. The QTU has ensured that any such programs will require community support and the approval of the relevant local DoE regional office.

Mask mandate

As members would be aware, the mask mandate in schools was put back in place on 30 September as part of the return to Stage 2 restrictions. This requires all adults in all schools and all students in high schools to again wear masks at school in the following local government areas:

• Brisbane
• Gold Coast
• Logan
• Moreton Bay
• Townsville
• Palm Island.

If you have travelled to one of the listed LGAs over the school holiday period, you will also need to comply with the revised Stage 2 restrictions. This will be reviewed again towards the end of Week 2 of Term 4.

If you have any questions about the current restrictions or other COVID-19 related questions, please contact QTAD on 1300117823 or email qtad@qtu.asn.au. 

World Teachers’ Day

World Teachers' Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and thank Queensland teachers for their important role in our communities and for the positive impact they have on the lives of students. Members are encouraged to send a short (30 sec to 1 min) video to the QTU about “that one teacher” that made a positive difference or lasting impact on them. The videos can be submitted via email to qtu@qtu.asn.au.

This year, we say thank you on World Teachers’ Day to highlight the importance of acknowledging and showing appreciation for teachers. Let’s join together to thank all Queensland teachers on World Teachers’ Day, Friday 29 October.

With the Ekka public holiday now falling on the same day, school communities in the Brisbane, Moreton Bay and Scenic Rim local government areas are encouraged to celebrate the day locally on Thursday 28 October.

Share your celebrations by using #ThankQldTeachers.

Climate strike

The School Strike for Climate will be held at 1pm on Friday, 15 October at Queens Gardens, Brisbane and other locations in regional cities.

The 2021 QTU State Conference – 250 rank and file members from around the state – endorsed a policy of

supporting and commending students organising and conducting protests against the inaction of the federal government on climate change and supporting the right of Union members to participate in climate strike activities.

On Tuesday, QTU Executive reaffirmed the decision to support self-selected schools (or representatives from schools) in participating in the School Strike 4 Climate (SS4C) and #TheYouthAreRising campaign on 15 October, to help put climate justice, secure jobs, a just transition and care for Country back on the federal government’s agenda and to help mobilise Australia in support of these aims.

Executive supported the student-organised climate strike as a practical demonstration of active and informed schooling – one of the goals of education. It also decided that QTU members should be able to participate by striking under the auspices of the QTU.

QTU Representatives from self-selected schools should consider holding a workplace meeting in support of the climate strike, which would discuss the following resolutions and actions (click here) and should discuss with the principal the school’s capacity to re-organise and release representatives of the staff.

Members wishing to participate in the strike or show their support are encouraged to forward the outcomes of their workplace meetings (whether seeking a directive or resolutions of support for the strike) to the QTU no later than 4pm on Wednesday 13 October.

QTU Representatives should consider holding a workplace meeting in support of the global student strike to discuss the following resolutions and actions.

1. THAT QTU members at (school name) support urgent and far-reaching actions by Australian governments to address the causes and impacts of global warming and climate breakdown before it is too late.
2. THAT QTU members at (school name) express their support for students participating in the global climate strike, a practical exercise of the active and informed citizenship for which students are educated.
3. THAT QTU members at (school name) request that the QTU issue a directive for QTU members at (school name) to take unpaid leave at 12 noon on Friday 15 October to enable participation in the global climate strike. 
4. THAT QTU members host a workplace morning/afternoon tea to share information about the October 15 #TheYouthAreRising campaign and how the climate crisis impacts upon us. 

If the third resolution is endorsed, QTU Representatives at the school should, in the first instance, discuss with the principal the school’s capacity to re-organise and release representatives of the staff.

Those QTU members who stop work from 12 noon to support the global climate strike are likely to lose three hours’ pay and will be issued with a directive by the QTU to stop work from 12 noon until the end of the school day.

Kate Ruttiman
QTU General Secretary

 Authorised by Kate Ruttiman, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers' Union
21 Graham Street, Milton, QLD, Australia, 4064