State Council Report: 4 November 2023
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 129 No 1, 16 February, page no. 4
Council delegates heard an update on the implementation of the State School Teachers’ Certified Agreement and noted the plan to start the development of the log of claims for the next EB in Term 2.
Reports were provided on the progress of the temporary to permanent bulk conversion process, in particular the impact on the guaranteed transfer process, borderless recruitment, and the transfer rating review. The QTU has negotiated an extension to the attraction benefit for teachers and school leaders working in TR2 and TR3 schools, to be announced in the near future.
The QTU has made a second submission to the Comprehensive Review of School Resourcing, which contains recommendations to improve the resourcing levels in schools and TAFE. These recommendations are reflected in the QTU State Budget Submission 2024/2025, which was also endorsed at Council and will be used by members to secure commitments in the lead up to the state election on 26 October.
Council received the financial reports for July, August and September and heard a report on the proposed QTU budget for 2024, which will contain a predicted small surplus, noting that a final QTU budget would be prepared for consideration and endorsement at the March State Council meeting.
Council farewelled First Nations Officer Rachel Bos, who has resigned to take up a position at the ACTU as First Nations Education Officer. Her contribution to the QTU’s Reconciliation Action Plan was significant. Amanda Power, the Chair of the QTU First Nations committee Gandu Jarjum, conveyed her thanks on behalf of the committee.
QTU policy was amended to include a more streamlined process for those members expressing an interest in becoming an acting QTU administration officer, consisting of no more than a two-page CV and a two-page suitability statement. Motions to amend QTU policy to enable candidates in elections to be provided with member email addresses were overwhelmingly defeated.
The National Issues report outlined the Converge on Canberra event, which was the culmination of the AEU’s For Every Child Campaign, in which education unions in all states and territories are campaigning for state schools to be resourced at 100 per cent of the school resourcing standard.
The TAFE report included the successful National Skills Agreement, the new five-year agreement that promotes a partnership between states and the Commonwealth. Council celebrated the wins for TAFE members at Central Queensland University (CQU), who will be receiving pay increases of an average of 10 per cent. Those working in the TAFE Division will be receiving an upfront COLA payment and significant pay increases.
Council farewelled Jenny Swadling, the QTU’s former Honorary Vice-President, who did not re-contest the Presidential election as she had completed three terms. President Cresta Richardson and Vice-President Leah Olsson thanked Jenny for her long and valuable contribution to the QTU over many years, as the voice of school leaders in rural and remote areas of Queensland.
The next meeting of State Council will be held on 2 March.