No. 1-23, 16 May 2023 | Open PDF
TO: QTU MEMBERS
Promoting and Protecting Member Working Conditions
This is the first in a new series of updates that the QTU will be providing after significant member meetings, including those of Council, Conference and Executive. These updates are designed to provide members with a snapshot of the many ways in which the QTU is working for you, each and every day.
Safe schools and supported students
The QTU is currently developing a campaign to ensure that our schools are safe for both our students and our members. The department has a duty of care to ensure that students with needs are supported with adequate resources and offered alternate education opportunities where required. But at the same time, it must ensure that its teachers and school leaders are free from the risk of injury and illness arising from unacceptable student behaviour.
At the weekend, QTU State Council called on the department to get on board with the campaign for zero tolerance towards occupational violence.
Additional resources to support the campaign are being developed and will be available within the coming weeks.
Members have their say
Late last year, State Council resolved that the QTU should survey members about student behaviour and the effectiveness of programs such as Positive Behaviour for Learning. The survey, which closed last Monday, focused on local context, workload, professional development, and school consultation processes.
More than 2,000 QTU members participated in the survey from a representative distribution across Queensland regions, school sectors and years of experience.
The QTU will be releasing the results in due course, and will use the survey data to escalate negotiations with the Department of Education to ensure a rapid and detailed response to schools where necessary.
We thank all members who participated in the survey.
DoE survey - Comprehensive Review of School Resourcing [CRoSR]
The QTU won a comprehensive review of school resourcing during the last year’s enterprise bargaining negotiations. The review, which is now underway, includes resourcing methodologies, procedures, and systems. A survey enabling staff, parents, and school community members to share their views on current resourcing in state schools is now live.
The survey, which will take approximately five minutes to complete, is accessible at https://survey.qed.qld.gov.au/n/axGhq4M
The survey can also be accessed by scanning the QR code below with a mobile phone.
As a key stakeholder in the review process, the QTU will be conducting comprehensive statewide consultation through its established processes, QTU school leader forums and area council meetings. In addition, focus groups are planned, with a broad range of members representing a diversity of employee roles, tailored network groups, sectors, school size, contexts, and locations.
You can also provide feedback directly to the QTU CRoSR Review team at any time on schoolresourcingreview@qtu.asn.au
COLA
During the negotiations for the 2022 Department of Education State School Teachers’ Certified Agreement, the QTU secured a cost of living adjustment (COLA) payment to offset the rising cost of living.
In each year of the agreement, if annual inflation (Brisbane Consumer Price Index, all groups, March quarter annual percentage change from the March quarter of the previous year, as published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics) exceeds the wage increase under the agreement for the relevant agreement year, a COLA payment will be paid to eligible employees, in accordance with clause 6.2:
- at the end of the relevant agreement year
- equal to the difference between annual inflation and the wage increase for the relevant agreement year, capped at 3 percentage points (3 per cent)
- with reference to base wages earned under the agreement during the relevant agreement year, excluding allowances or additional payments
- as a one-off lump sum not forming part of base salary and taxed according to the applicable law.
On 26 April, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released the annual inflation figures. In accordance with the certified agreement, the calculation date for payment is 30 June.
The QTU believes that the COLA payment will be at the capped rate of 3 per cent, however we have written to the Minister for Education asking for formal confirmation from Treasury. The COLA payment must be made to eligible employees of the Department of Education by the end of August.
QLearn member survey
The QTU is seeking feedback from members about the barriers and enablers, and the resourcing required to support the continued roll out of the QLearn platform.
Have your say here: http://www.research.net/r/QTU_QLearnSurvey
Trouble shooting survey links: if you are having trouble accessing the survey links directly, copy and paste the above links into a web browser, or try accessing the above links on a personal device.
Notable Noticeboard competitionOur wonderful QTU Reps do an incredible job of supporting teachers in every state school, so we wanted to acknowledge the great work they do. |
Kate Ruttiman
General Secretary
Authorised by Kate Ruttiman, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers' Union
21 Graham Street, Milton, QLD, Australia, 4064