EB11 campaign heats up
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 130 No 6, 5 September 2025, page no 6.
On Wednesday 6 August, more than 50,000 members of the Queensland Teachers' Union across the state took protected industrial action, united in their calls for the state government to reach agreement with the QTU on a replacement collective agreement.
Members turned out in huge numbers, keen to give this government a clear message that teachers must be respected, properly resourced and given incentives that will attract and retain teachers and school leaders to live and work in Queensland’s regional rural and remote schools.
Queensland teachers and school leaders must also be paid at levels comparable to the highest paid teachers and school leaders in the country, and the government must deliver on its pre-election commitment to solve the teacher shortage crisis.
Members at the strike meetings supported the conduct of further industrial action if satisfactory progress towards a reasonable agreement is not made.
The QTU continues to participate in the conciliation process in order to reach an agreement that is acceptable to members.
On 28 July, DoE lodged an application with the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) to request help in reaching a certified agreement. Conciliation is a form of dispute resolution in which the QIRC helps parties negotiate and reach an agreement. The QIRC’s objective is to help the negotiating parties reach agreement on all matters, or as many matters as possible. In order to achieve this, the QIRC may give advice or make recommendations to the parties about the conduct of the negotiations.
Information shared during conciliation remains strictly confidential. If conciliation does not lead to a resolution, then the Commissioner conciliating the matter can refer the matter to arbitration. At the point of arbitration, the QIRC may consider an application for an interim wage increase.
Further conciliation conferences will be held on a regular basis, with the aim of reaching agreement in the near future.
At its meeting on Monday 11 August, QTU Executive called on the state government to make an offer that achieves the core elements of the claim by Friday 29 August. In the absence of such an offer by that date, it resolved that delegates at QTU August State Council on 30 August would determine a date for a further statewide 24-hour stoppage.
Members will be informed of any developments via Newsflash and other QTU communication channels. In the meantime, please show your support by wearing maroon on Mondays, and attending any local rallies that might be held in your area.