EB11 update
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 130 No 7, 3 October 2025, page no 10.
On 28 July, the Department of Education sought the assistance of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) to support the bargaining process with the QTU. The first conciliation conference was held on Thursday 29 June, and since the commencement of industrial action on 6 August, regular conferences have been convened to continue progressing negotiations.
Conciliation is an important and constructive part of the enterprise bargaining process. Guided by the same good faith bargaining principles as direct negotiations, its purpose is to assist the parties to reach agreement on as many matters as possible. The Commission can play a valuable role by offering advice, making recommendations about the conduct of negotiations, and providing directions where needed to help move discussions forward.
Members should be aware that, under section 176(5) of the Industrial Relations Act 2016 (Qld), matters discussed in conciliation remain confidential. While this means QTU officers cannot share the specific details of these sessions, members can be assured that the process is designed to support fair, balanced, and solutions-focused outcomes.
In a recent conference, the Commissioner confirmed that both parties had been negotiating in good faith and that positive progress was being achieved. On this basis, the Commissioner recommended that the QTU pause consideration of further industrial action for a four-week period, allowing conciliation to continue productively.
At its meeting on 30 August, State Council — comprising more than 120 delegates from branches across Queensland — carefully considered the Commissioner’s recommendation and the overall progress of the EB11 campaign. After more than two and a half hours of thoughtful discussion, Council resolved to accept the recommendation.
As a result, for the following four weeks the QTU focused on negotiations through conciliation, with the clear goal of reaching a fair agreement with the government. At the conclusion of this period, QTU Executive will review the progress made and determine the next steps in the campaign.