A pay dispute has led to a second teachers strike in months, sparking accusations a state government is short changing educators.
Thousands of Queensland state school teachers will walk off the job on November 25 after wage talks stalled following months of negotiations.
Teachers abandoned classrooms for the first time in 16 years when they staged the biggest strike in the state’s history in August, demanding better pay and conditions.
A second strike has been confirmed after the teachers union overwhelmingly rejected the government’s “historic” offer that included an eight per cent pay rise over three years.
The state government claimed the pay deal would have made Queensland teachers among the country’s highest paid, earning in excess of $100,000 by the end of the proposed package.
The teachers union held rallies across the state last week calling on the state government to reopen talks, demanding a salary and conditions package “that our members see value in”.
However the union on Tuesday said they had “no option” but to strike, accusing the state government of ignoring them.
“This could all have been avoided. The only party unwilling to communicate and negotiate is the government,” Queensland Teachers’ Union president Cresta Richardson said in a statement.
“The government has offered nothing but indifference and disrespect.”
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Demonstrations and protests are set to be held across the state on November 25 as part of the 24-hour, protected industrial action.
It is believed the date coincides with year 11 student exams worth 25 per cent of assessment.
“Members don’t want to strike,” union vice-president Leah Olsson said.
“But our community deserves enough teachers in its schools, and our students deserve safe classrooms and the resources they need to learn – the government is deliberately letting them down.”
The teachers union vented their frustration a month after Queensland’s public nurses and midwives accepted a $1.8 billion pay deal from the state government – double their initial offer.
The state’s nurses and midwives are set to be among the highest paid in the country after voting in favour of the new agreement, marking their biggest wage increase since 2012.
“Nurses secured extra financial benefits through negotiation … but (Queensland Premier) David Crisafulli has opted to shortchange educators,” Ms Olsson said.
The teachers union claimed the state government had persisted with the rejected deal over more than 20 meetings and a period of conciliation in the industrial commission.
Pay negotiations are set to head to arbitration, a process that may take two years.
The teachers union said December 30 was the earliest date arbitration could begin.
The Queensland government has been sought for comment.
