We are in for a fight, but that's nothing new
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 130 No 4, 20 June 2025, page no 7.
As I’m sure you are aware, we are heading into what looks like a tough EB negotiation with the Crisafulli government for teachers and school leaders. It’s a blunt truth but one we have been preparing for.
We are seeing the nurses ahead of us and it’s clear we will not be handed anything we don’t roll up our sleeves and fight for. This is nothing new for us in the QTU though.
As teachers, we are used to sharing knowledge, experience and making sure everyone involved knows what’s in front of us. These qualities will be fully used in this EB11 campaign.
Although we are negotiating with a new government that is largely inexperienced in these matters, our team has done this before, and believe me, this experience will matter.
In simple terms, the future of the profession we love and dedicate ourselves to is at stake. The teacher shortage crisis, our issues with violence and aggression, workload and compliance, the right to disconnect, and just plain respect for what we do, are all on the table.
We are seeking nation-leading wages and conditions to match. Both are needed to underpin our workforce, retain you, our valued members, and attract new teachers to the profession.
The clock is ticking, with our current agreement set to expire on 30 June.
At rallies and events statewide, we will remind the government of our expectations, our members commitment, and our indomitable will. We will stand together as a modern union, honouring our predecessors’ past campaigns, drawing strength from knowing we have fought and won before.
We are in for a fight, we know it. But we know how to fight, how to negotiate, how to organise, how to bring the community along with us and how to ensure our message is clear and in line with the values we share.
"We are in for a fight, we know it. But we know how to fight..."
Throughout this fight, it’s important to remind ourselves of the importance of what we do, day in day out. Sharing your stories with your loved ones and your community is immensely helpful. Telling our stories is how we influence and gain supporters.
On the other side of that coin, we can expect the government to run its race, to cry poor, manipulate the media, and attempt to erode our reputation as a profession to save money.
Please know, we will defend you in the media. We will not stand for narratives that run you down or minimise the extra effort, the unpaid hours, and the resources you’ve dipped into your own pocket for to help students.
We will remind the government of what our teachers experience on any given day, and that it’s time to make good on its election promises.
Our kindness, our selflessness, and our commitment to students and school communities do not constitute weakness - the government would be wise not to mistake it as such.
The fight we are expecting on the horizon will unify our Union, growing our QTU member numbers across classrooms and staff rooms. It will send a clear message that we should be treated respectfully and paid appropriately. Please help recruit new members where you see them, every new member is small victory in our battle.
I have no doubt we can win for Queensland teachers and school leaders. After all, a win for our members is a win for quality public education and the many Queenslanders who rely on it. It just makes sense.