"Claim and complain" to send the unis a message
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 124 No 6, 16 August 2019, page no. 5
Our “claim and complain” campaign is continuing, as we ask our members to claim the payment and complain to the universities about the pay for supervising pre-service teachers.
The QTU (along with the union for the independent sector the IEU-QNT) has been advocating for an increase in the daily rate supervising teachers and site co-ordinators receive from the universities when they accept preservice teachers on their professional experience teaching placements. The daily rate, $21.05, has not increased since 1992. By comparison, teachers in NSW receive $31.50 a day.
We have been heartened by the number of members engaging in this campaign and expressing their disappointment directly to the universities. As well as our Biennial Conference delegates, we’ve had new educators, school leaders and members at individual schools (with a special mention to Emerald SS) send letters to the universities. If you’re willing to join our campaign and want to send the universities the message that teachers are worth more, there are some resources available on the QTU website at www.qtu.asn.au/claimandcomplain
The universities refuse to accept that preservice teacher supervision is a voluntary task that teachers take on in addition to their other responsibilities. We have written to them again recently to address this misconception.
They continue to refuse to meet with us to discuss this issue. Unless this changes, we will have to consider asking members not to provide supervision for a specific period during term four, with a further withdrawl of these services should the payment not increase.
The QTU continues to support preservice teachers and recognises the importance of professional experience, but we urge you to demand pay parity with NSW and be certain of your pay and conditions when accepting preservice teachers.